Biggest FNV unions call for chairwoman to resign over pensions

The two biggest trade unions in the FNV federation will call on chairwoman Agnes Jongerius to resign if she refuses to support their position on pension reform, the Volkskrant reports on Monday.


Civil service union Abvakabo and general workers union Bondgenoten remain opposed to the reforms, despite more concessions from social affairs minister Henk Kamp.
And the union leaders say Jongerius is ‘undemocratic’ and has proved herself a ‘very poor negotiator’, the paper says.
The FNV federation board is meeting again on Monday to discuss the latest reforms to the pension plan, which paves the way for a rise in the state pension age from 65 to at least 66.
Heavy work
Abvakabo and Bondgenoten want more concessions to help low income workers – often those doing the most physically-taxing jobs – to still be able to retire at 65 without losing too much pension income.
Between them, Abvakabo and Bondgenoten represent 60% of FNV members. The unions argue, therefore, that their decision should be binding on the union federation as a whole.
The government says it is important to have union approval for the plans to ensure they can be implemented smoothly once they become law.

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