The next chairman of the new look FNV trade union federation will have more powers and support, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Tuesday.

The paper says one of the main reasons for the federation’s current malaise and internal squabbles is the fact the chairman does not have the last word. The FD bases its claims on union sources.
The FNV is currently in the middle of a restructuring process and plans to relaunch itself as De Nieuwe Vakbeweging (DNV) or new union movement. A draft agreement is due to be published on May 1.
Torpedoed
The sources point out that while current chairwoman Agnes Jongerius was mandated to represent the union in talks with employers and ministers, such as over pension reform, any decision still has to be referred back to the chairmen of the 19 unions which make up the federation.
For example, almost completed deals on pensions and redundancy law were torpedoed at the last minute by the member union chiefs.
Sources told the paper officials want the federation to ‘speak with one voice’ and this is why the 1.4 million members should be able to choose the board on the principle of one-man-one-vote.
At the moment, individual union chiefs all have equal say, meaning smaller unions can out-vote big ones.