Employers organisation leader Bernard Wientjes has criticised general workers union Bondgenoten for ‘totally irresponsible’ behaviour with regard to pension reform.

The VNO-NCW chief says in an interview with Friday’s Financieele Dagblad that the union appears to be set on torpedoing the agreement, worked out between employers, unions and ministers earlier this month.
The union is not concerned with the contents of the pension deal, but an internal struggle within the FNV union federation, he said. The deal paves the way for an increase in the pension age from 65 to at least 66 by 2020. It also changes the way corporate pensions are calculated.
Bondgenoten opposes the deal, saying workers face too much uncertainty about the size of their pensions. Civil service union Abvakabo has also distanced itself from the deal.
Bondgenoten is due to decide on Friday whether to join in an FNV-wide vote on the agreement.