Dutch cleaners take national strike action

Cleaners in the Netherlands have launched a widespread campaign of industrial action. Their national campaign began on Monday evening with strikes at ten railway stations and will spread to a number of banks, schools and offices on Tuesday.

The cleaners are striking for a better collective labour agreement and greater respect from employers and customers. They want to be paid from the first day of sick leave and want more time in which to carry out their work.

Employers in the cleaning sector have dismissed the union demands as unrealistic in times of recession and severe cutbacks. They argue that labour costs will rise by 12 percent if they agree to the strikers’ demands, and say they are not prepared to pay more than a 3 percent increase.

The union says around 2,000 cleaners are willing to come out on strike, more than during the major cleaner’s strike in 2010.