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Dutch TNT postal workers announce strike action



The Dutch unions representing TNT postal workers have announced that they are to embark on a rolling programme of strike action in a bid to secure a fair wage deal. Last month workers rejected an offer of three per cent.



Workers represented by ABVAKABO FNV, a member of the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging and sister union of the ITF-affiliated Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten, turned out in droves to agree the strike action at a meeting on 16 April in Utrecht.The action is due to begin on 23 April in the Hague, with further action in Amsterdam on 25 April and others throughout May in specific areas, culminating in a national strike on 27 May.



Talks in the last months between Abvakabo and TNT to negotiate on a new collective bargaining agreement broke down at 7 April when the union rejected the company's three per cent offer; the union is demanding an agreement that includes

a 3.5 per cent wage rise.



Anneke Stevens, Head of Abvakabo's Postal Sector commented: "We have been asking for 3.5 per cent from 1 April this year and TNT offers only 1.5 per cent on 1 April 2008 and 1,5 per cent on 1 January 2009, but only if we can agree on a collective bargaining agreement that does undermine workers' employment conditions."



TNT is hoping to make substantial savings in the years up to 2015 and anticipates cutting 7000 jobs and taking a range of other measures including introducing a pay freeze and slashing pensions and overtime.