The WUR delegation during the demonstration against the budget cuts on the Malieveld in The Hague on 25 November. Foto Resource Education Minister Eppo Bruins has responded to the labour unions’ ultimatum. He is willing to discuss. A warning ahead of time: there is no chance that the austerity measures will be (partly) retracted.
The ultimatum set by the unions expired last Saturday. They want all planned budget cuts in tertiary education and research reversed, or strikes may result. They did not expect a response from the minister, they stated on Thursday, as the latter had failed to respond for months.
Nonetheless, the minister reacted on Friday. In a letter addressed to the unions, he reiterated that he is bound by the financial limits set by the coalition. ‘Hence, I cannot respond to your demand to reverse the budget cuts on tertiary education.’
Work pressure
The minister intends to implement the austerity measures ‘as sensibly as possible’. That is what he is willing to discuss with the unions. The talks should focus on, among other issues, work pressure, which is a grave concern among the unions.
Bruins has earmarked 78 million euros out of the universities’ remaining budget to relieve work pressure. The funds are obtained through cuts in the Research and Science Fund.
Now that the CNV, FNV and AOb unions’ demands have not been met, they are considering follow-up action. The ultimatum served a legal purpose; its expiration enabled them to call for a political strike.