On Tuesday, the unions FNV and CNV seized the national congress of the VNG in MartiniPlaza to campaign for a better collective labor agreement for the employees of sheltered workshops. “These people are not taken seriously.”
“Sir, I can no longer afford my groceries. Do you know how expensive everything has become? And we don’t have a broad salary, you know. That is no longer the case.”
Erik Consten, employee of social work company Elkez from Groningen, looks questioningly at Groningen alderman Rik Niejenhuis, who is about to walk into MartiniPlaza, where the national conference of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Labor Party leader nods. “I understand your move. Everyone gets something and you want that too. But this is something that has to be arranged nationally, we cannot do that here in Groningen. The government has to get to work. But it is good that you are sounding the alarm here,” says Niejenhuis.
Difficult situation
On Tuesday morning before the start of the VNG congress, the unions CNV and FNV are using banners and pamphlets to draw attention to the difficult situation of the more than 90,000 employees who fall under the collective labor agreements for sheltered employment and people with disabilities (ADS). According to the trade unions, they urgently need to be compensated for the high inflation. They are demanding a 10 percent pay rise and better travel expenses. This involves around 75 million euros.
Months of campaigning have so far yielded nothing. And that stings. “These people are treated as second-class workers. They do not feel that they are being taken seriously”, says FNV director Elanda de Boer. “It is a money issue. Minister Schouten refers to the VNG. She says: I am not the employer. And the municipalities say: we depend on the government, we have no money. That does not help.”
“I am in the park and work next to someone who is paid by the municipality. And he has already received a significant salary increase this year. Then why don’t I get anything? That is not fair”, says Peter Post, who came to Groningen from Nijverdal for the demonstration.
Better municipal collective labor agreements
At the beginning of this year, the 190,000 municipal officials gained an average of 9 percent as a result of their new collective labor agreement. And that is of course abrasive, especially when it comes to the same work. “Something really needs to be done about that,” says CNV director Nico Foppen.
According to him, many employees with occupational disabilities are in a vulnerable position. In terms of income, they dangle at the very bottom of the wage structure. “There are plenty of harrowing cases. Many don’t make it to the end of the month, then the money is gone. We hear stories that people have to choose: either buy food or petrol for the moped to go to work. Something really needs to be done. The collective labor agreement runs until the end of 2025, so it really needs to be broken up.”
On Wednesday, a motion will be tabled at the VNG congress in which this is advocated. There seems to be a majority in favour, judging by the reactions of many visitors to the congress. They sympathize with the protesters’ demands. So is the Emmer mayor Eric van Oosterhout, who is also secretary and treasurer of the VNG.
“There has to be a solution for this group. But of course it is not small money, so there is still a lot of negotiation to be done. One side must move first. However, this is a dire situation. I am hopeful that it will be arranged before the summer,” he says.
Complicated
His Groningen colleague Koen Schuiling is more cautious. According to him, the negotiations on a more generous remuneration for the employees of sheltered workshops are part of a larger package. That makes it complicated. And many municipalities are concerned about the amounts they will receive from the government after 2025. “It is about the entire relationship between the State and municipalities. Many municipalities, including Groningen, wonder: where will we be in 2026?”
Stadjer Gerard Krouwels is not reassured. The 75-year-old former head of personnel got up at 07:00 to hand out pamphlets for the CNV at MartiniPlaza. “I think I have to do something. These people are less able to stand up for themselves. We must not abandon them.”