While hospitals are heavily overloaded by the corona pandemic, the approximately 200,000 employees have been waiting for months for a new collective labor agreement. The FNV union is tired of it and will make that clear on Wednesday during the fifth round of negotiations with the employers. The union hopes for a collective labor agreement “as a Christmas present” for the overworked staff.
“A lot is asked of the staff, but there is nothing in return. It is impossible to explain that it is so messed up with employees,” says FNV director Elise Merlijn. According to her, there must now be “butter to the fish”, because otherwise the sector will continue to empty. “People are going to say: good luck and goodbye. We can’t afford that. Ultimately, this is a social responsibility for all of us,” says Merlijn.
The current set of employment conditions expired on 1 July. According to FNV, the positions are still “far apart”. If it stays that way, the bond doesn’t rule out actions. Merlin recalls the series of actions in academic hospitals. These eventually led to a breakthrough, after which a collective labor agreement was reached. She hopes that the general hospitals will progress more smoothly than the “agony” of ten months with the UMCs.
– .
