Dutch unions reach call-centre deal

FNV Bondgenoten, the largest trade union in the Netherlands, has reached an agreement with the employers' association representing firms that provide call centres to other companies.

Ratified last month, the deal is the third to cover the sector, which employs around 15,000 people. The first agreement was signed in 2003, but its 2005 successor was reached with the independent union BVT rather than FNV Bondgenoten. Both unions have signed the latest agreement, which will last 18 months until May 2008.

As well as a 1.0% increase from March 2007 - in line with the current inflation rate (November) - and a further increase of 0.75% in March 2008, the new agreement provides for 1.0% of workers' pay to be set aside for an improvement in their pensions. However, if there has been no agreement on this by January 2008, workers will receive the money as a one-off payment.

Bondgenoten negotiator Nanny Nuijten told Workplace Report that the union was pleased to have reached an agreement on this occasion. She added that, "although this is a growing sector, there are lots of problems which management is often unwilling to tackle".

The agreement also provides that employees should be qualified to work in call-centres. The training will be paid for by the employers and will take place in work time.