FNV is seeking a 5.5 percent wage increase, supplemented by an additional 80 euros, in collective labor agreement negotiations over the coming year. By including a fixed euro amount rather than demanding the entire increase as a percentage, the union wants to ensure that lower-paid workers receive a larger boost in relative terms, labor conditions coordinator Jacqie van Stigt said.

FNV is currently seeking a 6 percent wage increase for the season that runs through December 1. The Netherlands’ largest trade union acknowledges that the demand is significant, but argues that economic conditions justify it.

“We see inflation rising and remaining well above average, labor productivity increasing, company profits remaining high, and the labor market still being tight,” Van Stigt said.

The 5.5 percent wage demand includes automatic price compensation, which means workers’ wages would automatically rise in line with inflation. FNV is also making equal pay for equal work a key priority in this year’s collective labor agreement negotiations and wants to narrow the pay gap.

FNV also wants to discuss the use of AI in the workplace during collective labor agreement negotiations. “We see billions being invested worldwide in the further development of AI, and it is also playing an increasingly important role in Dutch workplaces. Our members see that it mainly increases their workload and is being used as an excuse for reorganizations. The introduction of new technology must therefore be properly managed, with ‘people before machines’,” Van Stigt said.

CNV announced its own wage demand on Friday, seeking pay increases of 3 to 5.5 percent. However, employers’ groups VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland said on Sunday that they are opposed to such increases. Speaking on WNL Op Zondag, MKB-Nederland chairwoman Marijke Vuik said businesses are already facing sharply higher costs and have little room to absorb further increases.