FNV announces new action in cleaning sector
The union rejects the new collective agreement and says it intends to increase pressure on employers further.
FNV is preparing new action in the cleaning sector after members overwhelmingly rejected a collective-agreement result. Employers and CNV have accepted the new agreement, meaning different positions now exist side by side within the sector.
FNV says its members have rejected the negotiating result for the cleaning-sector collective agreement by a large majority. According to the union, this means insufficient account has been taken of demands concerning pay, workload and the appeal of the profession.
The union had previously called for a 12 per cent pay rise. According to FNV, this is needed to widen the pay gap with the minimum wage and to make cleaning work more attractive. The union is therefore not ruling out further strikes and other action.
According to CNV and employers’ organisation Schoonmakend Nederland, the new collective agreement applies to the sector. The agreement includes, among other things, a total pay rise of 6.1 per cent, enhanced compensation for commuting from 2027 and a loyalty bonus for employees who work in the sector for longer.
CNV members did approve the result. As a result, the collective agreement is final according to CNV, but FNV continues to oppose it. In September, the union already organised an action week with work stoppages at various locations, including Schiphol and railway stations.
According to earlier information from FNV, the cleaning sector comprises approximately 125,000 employees. A dispute over the collective agreement could therefore affect offices, transport locations, schools, healthcare institutions and other organisations that outsource cleaning work.
Employers’ organisations stress that the agreement must remain workable and financially viable. FNV, by contrast, believes employers and clients should pay more to improve pay and working conditions structurally. New action dates had not yet been fully finalised in the sources consulted.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- FNV members rejected the collective-agreement result.
- CNV members and employers did accept the result.
- The agreement includes a 6.1 per cent pay rise and additional employment conditions.
- FNV is not ruling out further action.
Left
Arguments The cleaning sector relies on low-paid work, and from this perspective employees should receive a larger pay increase, particularly given high workloads and rising costs.
Values Collective bargaining, financial security and stronger worker power.
Consequences A moderate agreement could perpetuate staff shortages and turnover; higher wages could, however, cost clients and public institutions more.
Centre
Arguments The agreement seeks to improve pay, travel costs and staff retention without financially overburdening the sector.
Values Feasibility, consultation and continuity of essential services.
Consequences A compromise could bring calm, but the difference between FNV and employers may remain as long as the workload does not demonstrably fall.
Right
Arguments From this perspective, pay agreements should reflect what companies and clients can afford; excessive costs could lead to higher rates, fewer contracts or automation.
Values Affordability, entrepreneurial freedom and market forces.
Consequences Strikes could affect customers and public services, while an excessively expensive collective agreement could put employment or affordable services under pressure.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The differences over the collective agreement, pay arrangements and earlier action have been confirmed by trade-union and employers’ sources. The article makes clear that new action dates have not yet been set.
- confirmed FNV members overwhelmingly rejected the collective-agreement result. — This is stated in FNV’s reporting. source
- confirmed The new collective agreement includes a total pay rise of 6.1 per cent. — CNV and Schoonmakend Nederland cite this percentage. source
- confirmed CNV members did approve the collective agreement. — This is stated in CNV’s publication on the definitive agreement. source
- confirmed In September, FNV members went on strike at Schiphol and railway stations, among other places. — FNV describes this action week itself. source
Editor's note
The collective-agreement arrangements and the different votes have been confirmed. FNV refers to new action, but concrete dates were not fully available in the sources.Sources
- Schoonmakers leggen week lang het werk neer — FNV
- Nieuwe cao voor schoonmakers is nu eindelijk definitief — CNV
- Cao-onderhandelingen schoonmaak — Schoonmakend Nederland
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „fnv schoonmaak”
- Trouw — „fnv schoonmaak”
- RTL Nieuws — „fnv schoonmaak”