Trade unions in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Trade Unions play a major role in the corporatist Dutch economy.
In 2001 about 25% of the Dutch people who were employed were organized in a union. There are three major unions: the Christian-democratic "Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV)
", the social-democratically oriented "Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV)
" and the "Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions (MHP)
". All are federations of sector-based labour unions. The FNV is with about 1,4 million members the largest of the three. The CNV has 350.000 members and the MHP 160.000. The FNV has 17 affiliate unions, the CNV 11 and the MHP 4.
The labour unions play a major role in the Dutch economy
because, first, they bargain with employers' organizations over wages and working conditions (these deals are binding for all employed people), and second, they advise the government on economic legislation through its membership of the Social-Economic Council (SER)
.
Traditionally Dutch labour unions were part of the pillarized structure of society. Each social group had a pillar: the Protestants (CNV), the Catholics (NKV, merged into FNV), the social-democrats (NVV
, merged into FNV) and the syndicalists (NAS
).
In 2001 about 25% of the Dutch people who were employed were organized in a union. There are three major unions: the Christian-democratic "Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV)
Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond
The Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
", the social-democratically oriented "Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV)
Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
" and the "Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions (MHP)
Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions
-External links:* official site....
". All are federations of sector-based labour unions. The FNV is with about 1,4 million members the largest of the three. The CNV has 350.000 members and the MHP 160.000. The FNV has 17 affiliate unions, the CNV 11 and the MHP 4.
The labour unions play a major role in the Dutch economy
Economy of the Netherlands
On the Index of Economic Freedom, the Netherlands is the 13th most laissez-faire capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed countries. At the time of writing the Netherlands is the 16th largest economy of the world. Between 1998 and 2000 annual economic growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the...
because, first, they bargain with employers' organizations over wages and working conditions (these deals are binding for all employed people), and second, they advise the government on economic legislation through its membership of the Social-Economic Council (SER)
Social-Economic Council
The Sociaal-Economische Raad is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. Formally it heads a system of sector-based regulatory organizations. It represents the social partners trade unions and employers' organizations...
.
Traditionally Dutch labour unions were part of the pillarized structure of society. Each social group had a pillar: the Protestants (CNV), the Catholics (NKV, merged into FNV), the social-democrats (NVV
Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
The Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen was a Dutch social-democratic trade union.-History:...
, merged into FNV) and the syndicalists (NAS
National Labor Secretariat
The National Labor Secretariat was a trade union federation in the Netherlands from 1893 to 1940.-Early years:...
).