In May of 2019, a new collective labour agreement (CLA) was signed for Dutch universities, bringing changes to the working conditions and benefits of university employees. The agreement, which was the result of negotiations between university employers and labor unions, covers academic and support staff at all Dutch universities.
One of the key changes in the new agreement is an increase in the salaries of university employees. In 2019, salaries will rise by 2.2%, and will go up by an additional 0.8% in 2020. This increase is meant to help keep pace with the rising cost of living in the Netherlands.
In addition to the raise in salaries, the collective labour agreement also includes several other improvements. For example, employees who work part-time will now be entitled to a proportionate amount of holiday pay and end-of-year bonus, which was not the case before. Furthermore, the agreement also includes measures to help combat the high workload many university employees face, by reducing the number of temporary and flexible contracts and increasing the number of permanent positions.
Another important aspect of the new collective labour agreement is the increased attention it gives to diversity and inclusiveness. The agreement includes measures to help promote diversity in university hiring practices, as well as to support employees from underrepresented groups. This includes the creation of a new Diversity and Inclusion fund, which will be used to support initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion at Dutch universities.
Overall, the new collective labour agreement for Dutch universities represents an important step forward in improving the working conditions and benefits of university employees. With a focus on raising salaries, reducing workload, and promoting diversity and inclusiveness, the agreement represents a major win for labor rights in the Netherlands.
