News

The settlement consists of the following:



· 3.5% pay increase over two years - this is 1.5% more than the general wage settlement in light of the economic crisis agreed for the rest of the workforce by the union in Holland.



· Temporary workers who went on strike will get their jobs back and a joint Commission is to be set up to make sure that this happens.



· Dutch language lessons are to be introduced for all new entrants to the industry. If they complete the 3 month course they receive a Euro 750 bonus.



· A union advantage fund of 1.4 million Euros is to be set up to pay a bonus to every member of the cleaners section of the union.



· Another fund is to be set up to compensate the strikers for the loss of their holiday entitlements so that they are not too badly disadvantaged from being on strike for so long.



This is a magnificent victory - the whole country has backed the cleaners and will be thrilled with this settlement. The union leadership have challenged their members to this success to to recruit more members and build a stronger union.