Unions threaten with strikes in tertiary education

The unions’ ultimatum is to expire on Saturday. Their demand: the cabinet must cancel all planned budget cuts in education, or else. Or else… what? Eight questions and answers about the threat of a “political strike”.

The slow student fine may have been retracted, but many budget cuts in education remain in place. The unions want all budget cuts off the table and have issued an ultimatum: The austerity measures must be reversed by Saturday.

Still, the unions have not planned any concrete actions. Why, then, have they issued an ultimatum? And why strike against the cabinet, which is, in fact, not an employer?

Is striking for political reasons permitted?

Not really. The right to strike pertains to work, not political inclination. UvA Professor of Labour Law, Evert Verhulp, criticised the FNV a few weeks ago for organising a strike at the University of Amsterdam. Employees went on strike to protest the violation of their right to strike and ties with Israel. In an interview in FD, Verhulp stated that a judge would not likely accept such actions. ‘Labour rights are a broad concept, but do not include the war in Gaza.’

Is striking against cabinet policy permitted?

Perhaps. FNV negotiator Sam Verduijn calls it a political strike. ‘But when we strike against budget cuts, we are doing so because of work pressure. The Labour Inspectorate already qualifies work pressure as much too high. Hence, investments are needed.’

‘Work pressure’ pertains to employment conditions…

And precisely that will help this strike if the matter is brought before a judge, says Verhulp, should it come to that. After all, why would employers want to prohibit a strike against the budget cuts they themselves so vehemently oppose?

Does the minister not consider work pressure an issue?

He does, indeed. Minister Bruins informed the House of Representatives in October that the universities may expect measures to be taken if they fail to lower the work pressure. But apparently, the minister feels that can be done despite shrinking budgets.

Are employees willing to strike?

The unions think so. They surveyed their members after the deal that was made on the education budget. 85% of the FNV members are willing to strike over the remaining austerity measures. The AOb reports that as many as 90% of its members are willing to do so. The FNV will hold an “action meeting” with its constituents to discuss follow-up protests this Monday.

Why wait to discuss consequences after the ultimatum ends?

Because the ultimatum is mostly a legal tool, AOb negotiator Douwe van der Zweep explains. This is the third time since last October that the unions have called on the minister to discuss the budget cuts with them, but the minister has yet to respond. ‘Not even an introductory meeting.’

Verduijn, too, has not heard from the minister. ‘It is a pattern: the minister has refused to talk with us for over six months. We don’t expect to hear from him before Saturday, but the ultimatum is a legal tool that enables us to call for a strike.’

Why don’t the protests start next week?

‘We are in it for the long haul’, says Verduijn. Most of the plans will take effect in 2026. In the upcoming weeks, the unions will try to convince the Senate to vote against the austerity measures. The spring budget is also set to be published. In this document, budget plans are often amended. ‘This is not a matter of a quick strike, and we’re done. This is a question of perseverance.’

So, perhaps there won’t be any strikes?
That is possible. But the union is out of options, says Verduijn. ‘We have already gathered 25 thousand protestors on the Malieveld. That is quite a statement. The next protest should surpass that, and that suggests a strike.’‘We have already managed to gather 25 thousand people on the Malieveld; we want the next protest to surpass that.’

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