Are young people interested in trade unionism in Holland?
It’s difficult raise their interest. In 2004, there was a mass trade union demonstration about pensions. Some young people found it ridiculous, saying that trade unions defend the jobs of the past (such as lifelong jobs with the same employer), whilst most young people are hired on flexible contracts, change jobs regularly and enjoy fewer rights than older workers. The dispute was over pensions, the fact that increasing numbers of people are reaching retirement age and their pensions are being paid by young people with less rights and security than those receiving them. Some young people think that the trade unions are not changing enough, they feel that they need to be modernised, that more attention should be given to the new style of work relations between employers and employees. That was one of the reasons for creating FNV-Jong: young people didn’t feel represented by the union; they were of the opinion that it only represented people over 45. What is the share of young members in
