Workplace Report October 2000

Features: Europe

Dutch unions ask for 4% plus

FNV, the main Dutch trade union confederation is calling for a 4% increase in pay next year plus another 0.5% for other improvements. Inflation in the Netherlands is currently 2.9% (September). This is a draft proposal which will be finalised in November, once individual unions have had a chance to comment. However, it already has the backing of the Netherland's biggest union, FNV Bondgenoten, which organises a wide range of employees in industry and services. Both the union and FNV are also pressing for profit sharing to be made available to all employees