More strikes but fewer strikers in 2022

Teachers gather in Rotterdam while on strike.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
In 2022, there were altogether 33 labour strikes in the Netherlands, up from 22 strikes in 2021. However, last year’s strikes involved fewer workers, which resulted in fewer working days lost: 39 thousand, against 59 thousand in 2021. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on newly released figures.

In 2020, the year in which measures against coronavirus were introduced, there were 9 labour strikes. After this, the number increased to 33 strikes in 2022. The last time there were relatively more strikes was in 1988 (38 strikes).

Labour strikes
JaartalLabour strikes
199924
200023
200116
200216
200314
200412
200528
200631
200720
200821
200925
201021
201117
201218
201324
201425
201527
201625
201732
201828
201926
20209
202122
202233


At 17 thousand, the number of workers on strike in 2022 was lower than in 2021 (28 thousand workers) and considerably lower than in 2020, when there were 105 thousand. As a result, fewer working days were lost in 2020 and 2021.

Number of workers involved and working days lost during strikes
JaartalWorkers involved (x 1,000)Working days lost (x 1,000)
199958.975.8
200010.39.4
200137.445.1
200228.6245.5
200310.815.0
2004104.262.2
200529.041.7
200611.315.8
200720.726.4
200851.9120.6
20093.64.6
201014.159.2
201147.122.0
201289.6219.4
20134.519.4
201410.240.9
201542.447.6
201610.619.2
2017146.9306.3
201833.7239.1
2019318.7391.0
2020105.0211.0
202128.259.3
202216.539.4

Strikes scattered throughout the year

Most of the strikes last year (13) took place partly or entirely in the second quarter. Four took place in the third quarter.

28 out of the 33 strikes were called by a trade union. 25 strikes were ended by an agreement after negotiations involving a trade union.

Most strikers working in transportation and storage

The sector with the highest number of strikes was transportation and storage (13 times). These also involved the highest number of strikers (7 thousand) and the strikes led to the highest loss of working days (23 thousand).

The manufacturing sector saw relatively many strikes as well (12). These resulted in 9 thousand lost working days and involved 1.5 thousand strikers.

Information and communication workers least satisfied with CLA

In the majority of cases (20), the reason to strike was dissatisfaction with the collective labour agreement as a whole. For 8 strikes, the only reason were the wages. Workers have been asked to rate their satisfaction with their company’s collective agreement and salary as part of the Working Conditions Survey (NEA), conducted by CBS and TNO. This showed that, in 2022, 77 percent of all workers were (very) satisfied with their employer’s collective agreement. 74 percent of the employees were satisfied or very satisfied with their pay.

Workers (both 88 percent) were most likely to be (very) satisfied with the collective agreement in education and public administration. Least satisfied were workers in the information and communication sector, at 66 percent. Employees of financial institutions (88 percent) were most likely to be satisfied with their pay. Least satisified with pay were workers in the care sector (66 percent).

Employee satisfaction with salary and collective agreement (15-74 yrs), 2022
BedrijfstakCollective agreement (CAO) (% (very) satisfied)Salary (% (very) satisfied)
Education88.179.9
Public administration87.886.5
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries85.081.7
Construction84.080.4
Manufacturing80.979.1
Financial institutions79.588.3
Health and care74.566.2
Accommodation and food services73.369.6
Wholesale and retail72.768.0
Culture, sports, recreation,
other services
72.470.6
Business services,
real estate
72.474.3
Transportation and storage68.968.3
Information and communication65.876.8
Source: CBS, TNO (NEA)