Post-strike: VDL NedCar and trade unions discuss social plans again

Trade unions and Nedcar owner VDL will meet again on Monday. This is the result of talks between the unions and their management at the Nedcar car factory in Born on Friday afternoon. “We are on the right track,” FNV executive Patrick Meets said Friday night.

VDL management seems to have made a better proposal to the unions on a new social plan that anticipates what is to come. Mass layoffs will begin at Nedcar in November this year. “Work is being done to resolve the dispute,” Meets said. He didn’t want to say any more about the matter. “Everything is still volatile and fragile. We don’t want to put any more pressure on this issue.”

CNV director Jeron Bruinsma said management had given the union the green light to begin formal negotiations. “We are now awaiting an invitation from the VDL to formally return to the negotiating table,” he said.

The works council and trade unions had previously said the gap between the VDL’s proposal and the union’s demands was around €20 million.

Trade unions want a better social plan than the current one, which dates back to 2021. The reason is that the MINI production contract in Born expires early next year. That would put most of the current 3,950 employees out of work. Disagreements between the VDL and the trade unions over the social program have grown and the factory has already gone on strike for eight days. Further strikes are likely to be halted if negotiations resume.