Around 100 workers at department store group V&D are going to court to fight a pay cut of nearly 6%.

The company is in such acute financial trouble it said earlier this month it wanted all staff to accept the pay cut, but without a job guarantee. On Monday the company said it has asked all its landlords for a four month rent holiday.

The workers are planning either a joint action or a number of test cases, the Volkskrant reports. The retail unions FNV, CNV and De Unie say they will support the workers in their legal fight.

V&D, which is owned by privaty equity company Sun Capital, operates 63 stores nationwide and has a presence in most major urban centres. It has a workforce of 5,000.