After a turbulent time with many actions, a collective agreement is now ready for the transport and logistics sector. Trade unions FNV and CNV have come to an agreement with employers. The agreements include wage increases of 3.50 and 3.25 per cent respectively.
The two-year CBA for Professional Goods Transport runs from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 and applies to around 150,000 employees. The collective agreement covers international freight transport, domestic transport, movers, drivers of rubbish trucks, parcel delivery drivers and drivers of crane trucks.
Wage hike, air conditioning and heater
In the agreement it has been agreed that wages will rise by 3.5 per cent from 1 July. From 1 January 2022, that will be a further 3.25 per cent. Furthermore, all trucks are to be fitted with heaters and air conditioning, which work even when the engine is off. Work is underway to deploy lighter roll cages. Because of the heavy nature of the profession, employees must be given the opportunity to retire early. Employers will start paying employee contributions for this purpose from now on.
Nice result'
Since March, action was taken for wage increases and better working conditions. Strikes took place at distribution centres of Albert Heijn and UPS, among others. With the new collective labour agreement, this will now come to an end. However, the unions still have to submit the agreements to their members.
Trade union CNV speaks of a "nice result". "After a restless time with actions, this is a great day for the 150,000 workers in the transport sector," said CNV's Tjitze van Rijssel. "During the corona crisis, it showed once again how crucial the transport sector is. But meanwhile, workers have been without a pay rise for almost a year and a half. Of course that's unacceptable, that chafes on all sides. It is good that we came to an agreement with the employers today. There is a nice result as far as we are concerned."
