Public sector workers are planning a series of strikes in June which will affect daily life over a one-week period.

National, regional and local civil servants and workers in regional security teams, social work centres and parts of the healthcare sector will take it in turns to down tools for a day.

They are protesting at the lack of progress in negotiations to finalise a new pay and conditions agreement (cao).

Coordinator Bert de Haas of civil service union Abvakabo told the Telegraaf that essential services will not be affected.

‘Civil servants are angry and not just about their own position,’ he said. ‘They are more concerned about the general attack on social services.’

Decentralisation

De Haas is referring to the cabinet’s decision to shift a large number of care duties from central to local government while cutting €1.5bn from the care budget.

The union says it has been approached by several local council workers who have had no update in their work and conditions since 2013 and who are now confronted with increased workloads through the decentralisation of care services.

‘Some of them originally wanted a national strike on March 19 during the local elections,’ De Haas said. ‘That civil servants would suggest this shows just how angry they are.’

Which week in June has not yet been decided.