“Employees in the timber trade will leave work for the tenth time next Monday,” says Saskia Spargaren, director of the timber company. “They do not agree with their employers about the wage increase in the new collective labor agreement. These people just want decent compensation for inflation.” CNV.
“But the employers’ offer is very weak. The strikers are steadfast and their numbers are increasing.”
“Our members are becoming increasingly militant against more and more timber traders in the country. During the first national strike that lasted 48 hours last Thursday and Friday, they asked us to strike again on Monday. Because even after a number of successful labor strikes in various Which lasted 24 hours the previous week, employers still refuse to agree on a good collective labor agreement,” says FNV Labor Coordinator Denis Verijn.
About six thousand people work in the timber trade. The previous collective labor agreement expired in March. FNV previously sent an ultimatum containing collective labor agreement requirements to the employers’ organization VVNH, the Royal Association of Dutch Timber Companies. FNV wants employers in the timber trade to include a structural increase in all monthly salaries totaling €100 and an additional wage increase of 6 percent.
VVNH said it wants to continue discussions with unions on a new collective labor agreement. According to VVNH, unions are “rejecting or ignoring” calls to talk to each other again.
