Dutch trade union federation gets a makeover

The trade union organisation of the 21st century needs to be more democratic, more modern and transparent and its membership should have direct influence and say at every level. These are the ideas behind the new DNV union federation, which were presented on 1 May.
The DNV is the new name for the biggest Dutch union federation, the FNV. Former Labour deputy social affairs minister Jetta Klijnsma has drawn up the plans and chosen a motto to go with them: “The union movement’s going to be good again”.
Referendum
She thinks there should be an assembly of members within the DNV which would comprise various unions. She sees greater possibilities for holding DNV referendums put forward by members themselves. She also advocates direct elections for the federation’s chair. Members, including the self-employed, pensioners, women, young people and teachers, will be able to decide for themselves which union (or unions) they join rather than being tied to those representing the industrial sectors within which they work.
Dutch unions have been representing workers for over a century. They negotiate with employers on pay and conditions. They and employers’ groups also regularly hold three-way policy talks with the government. This Dutch consensus model, seen as providing the Netherlands with stable labour relations, has been admired abroad for decades.
Pensions
Last year, the old FNV reached a new pensions agreement with the government, under which the pensionable age would rise from 65 to 67 over a number of years. Many within the FNV criticised the deal as unfair, saying it would force people doing heavy manual work to stay in employment as long as those with physically less demanding jobs. The internal division led to a crisis within the FNV and it was decided that a new more democratic federation should be set up.
Ms Klijnsma and her team have been holding talks with people from the broader trade union movement and with employers and politicians since mid-February. Anyone can make their opinions on the plans for the new organisation known to the FNV. The new DNV is to be introduced at a FNV congress scheduled for 23 June.
Initial response
Present FNV chair Agnes Jongerius has welcomed the plans and other unions within the present FNV have are also positive. At the moment, the ANBO union representing the elderly is not enthusiastic. Henk van der Kolk, chair of Bondgenoten, the largest union in the present FNV federation:
“I believe great strides have been made. Whatever your view, it’s the basis for establishing something about which our members will soon say: ‘OK, it looks all right to us.’ We’re not there yet, though. There’s still a risk that it’ll break up into bigger and smaller unions.”
Labour Party leader Diederik Samsom has said via Twitter: “It’s good that the union movement is re-launching itself.”
Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer thinks the plans for the new union federation “are looking good”. He hopes “it will really provide members with a united union”.
Trade union historian Sjaak van der Velden has his doubts about the way in which the federation aims to become more democratic. “What’s it going to look like?” he asks. He is, however, enthusiastic about an increase in openness.
“The newspapers sometimes describe the ins and outs of a dispute better than the union magazine itself. In this respect, the union movement is ossified. There should also be more pride in the union movement, which has after all achieved so much.”
(mw/imm)