EDIT: The strike in Amsterdam was halted on Wednesday, February 22 after municipalities and trade unions settled on a new collective labour agreement. Click here to read more.
Monday, February 20, marks the first day of a week-long strike in Amsterdam, which will see various groups of municipal workers - including rubbish collectors and law enforcement officers - down tools in an attempt to fight for higher salaries.
The past several weeks have seen a number of strikes across various Dutch cities and municipalities, as employers and trade unions butt heads over workers' contracts and wages. Wednesday, February 15 marked the first of what is set to be six days of industrial action among municipal workers in Rotterdam, and the last strike day among workers in The Hague.
Next to take a stand are those employed by the municipality of Amsterdam. Last week, it was confirmed that certain groups of civil servants in the Dutch capital would be staging a week-long strike, starting at 6.30am on Monday, February 20. The Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) is fighting for employees to receive a wage increase of between 10 and 12 percent.
What does the strike mean for residents in the Dutch capital? Street cleaners and rubbish collectors will be taking part, as will law enforcement officers (handhavers). Rubbish is therefore likely to pile up on streets over the course of the seven-day strike, and the municipality has advised members of the public to "keep waste at home if possible."
While rubbish will be collected in Weesp, the municipality of Amsterdam "will not collect bulky waste, commercial and household waste." Streets in the city won't be cleaned, bins won't be emptied, and Waste Points (Afvalpunten) in the city will remained closed throughout the strike period.
The FNV has warned drivers that traffic wardens and police officers will still be working, meaning fines will still be issued throughout the strike period, as these workers do not fall under the municipality’s collective bargaining agreement.
Thumb: Dutchmen Photography via Shutterstock.com.