Dutch trade union CNV instigated industrial action at the factory of French glass packaging company BSN Glasspack in Schiedam, western Netherlands, on 3 June 2004.
Management and employee representat…
Dutch trade union CNV instigated industrial action at the factory of French glass packaging company BSN Glasspack in Schiedam, western Netherlands, on 3 June 2004. Management and employee representatives failed to reach agreement on a new collective labour agreement (CAO), mainly because of a disagreement over pension regulations. The trade union had also asked for a one-off bonus of EUR 450 (USD 548). CNV had been threatening industrial action at the company from the of end May 2004 if BSN Glasspack did not agree to its demands for a new CAO. The company has 900 employees in the Netherlands and also has plants in Leerdam and Maastricht, which have been unaffected by the industrial action until now. In an ultimatum, Trade union FNV Bondgenoten gave the company until 3 June 2004 to change its CAO proposal. Strikes are expected at the plants if the parties do not agree on a new CAO. Under BSN Glasspack proposals, employees would have to work a year longer, until 63 years, before qualifying for a pension. Glasspack also proposed a reduction of pension payments and a 3% increase in employee pension contributions.