Employees in the metal sector will once again stop working in Assen and Emmen on Friday. They have had several strikes since November last year because of dissatisfaction with the collective labor agreement negotiations with their employers.
The start of the strike is a new collective labor agreement that is better for the employees. The previous collective labor agreement for metals and technology expired in October and a new agreement has not yet been reached. An important demand from the unions is that wages in the metal sector increase by 5 percent.
‘Disrespectful attitude’
In addition, they want ‘fair pay for young people, women and temporary workers’. If it is up to the unions, the minimum gross wage will be at least 14 euros per hour and youth wages will be cut. The unions are also demanding that older workers be able to retire three years earlier.
“Due to the disrespectful attitude of employers, we see an increase in the willingness to take action throughout the country, so we will continue to campaign, also here in Drenthe,” says Pieter Beuzenberg, regional director of the trade union FNV Metaal. “The combination of rising inflation and lagging wage developments is hitting working people hard in their wallets. Good money is being made in the sector, but the employees are not benefiting from it.”
Assen and Emmen
Strikers can report on Friday at the parking lot opposite the Bonte Wever in Assen or the parking lot behind the Emmer Fletcher Hotel. According to organizers FNV Metaal, CNV Vakmensen and De Unie, the ‘peak time’ is at 09.30. A so-called strike street is being set up, where participants can register digitally from the car.