Photo Roelof Kleis The labour unions and universities have reached a preliminary agreement on the new collective labour agreement. If the constituents ratify the agreement, a structural salary increase of 9 per cent will come into effect on 1 August. Additionally, each employee will receive a one-off payment of up to 1200 euros.
The FNV Education and Research union calls the result of the tough negotiations ‘quite good’. Negotiator Jan Boersma says this is ‘a considerable payment increase that the lower income employees in particular sorely need to help cover the continuously increasing living expenses.’
Purchasing power
The FNV and other unions demanded a 14 per cent salary increase in April, but that goal was unachievable. According to the FNV, the loss in purchasing power for employees is ‘not fully compensated’. Hence, employees with an hourly wage of 14 euros will receive the full one-time bonus of 1200 euros. Salary scales up to and including 9 will receive 1000 euros, and salary scales 10 and above will receive 800 euros.
Shell
Furthermore, the percentage of temporary contracts among academic staff will be reduced to 13.5 per cent in three years or less. The negotiators will consult with their constituents. Whether the negotiators’ agreement will be transformed into a new collective labour agreement will be decided no later than 26 July. The agreement is for a period of 15 months, from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024.
