Members of the CNV and MHP trade union federations have invited the biggest union grouping, the FNV, to join them in talks on Tuesday night in an effort to kick start negotiations on economic reform.

The CNV has already said it is not opposed to a pay freeze in principle, if the government agrees to reduce its planned cuts on spending on special education and special work schemes for the handicapped.
Both federations hope to get round the table with ministers and employers leaders as soon as possible to work out an agreement on spending cuts and reform. Some unions affiliated to the FNV are keen to join in but others, including the massive Bondgenoten general workers union, are opposed.
Done talking
Bondgenoten leader Henk van der Kolk said last week he has had it with talking to the cabinet and with its ‘heartless spending cuts’. The civil service union Abvakabo has yet to respond to the invitation, the Financieele Dagblad said.
The FNV is in the middle of talks on its future after becoming hopelessly divided over the government’s plans to reform pensions.