It is important that there are many of us
Sam's mother voted nicely for Wim Kok. He was only 16 himself when he joined the PvdA. And as soon as he was in front of the class as a teacher, he joined the AOb. Because, says Sam Verduijn (30, Citizenship teacher at ROC Amsterdam): “For me, a trade union stands for solidarity and a strong opposition to employers. Every teacher can argue with his program manager or fall ill. Then you want to be protected. ”
First of all, the collectivity. “Good working conditions are important to me. But they are not just there for me. Of course: I can get sick or get into a conflict with my manager and then it is nice if the union protects me. But even if that never happens to me, it is important that there is a trade union. For example for colleagues who are less fortunate. ”
second opinion
For example, Sam's colleague was advised by a company doctor that he should change jobs. This colleague switched the AOb and found out that he was entitled to a second opinion. This second advice turned out so differently that the teacher in question could simply return to his old job. Sam Verduijn: “That is why it is important that there are many of us. And that is why I would like to commit myself to the AOb. If you have a question about your employment, your salary or a conflict: you can always contact the AOb and receives expert advice. ”
Freedom and individuality are very important to my generation
Sam finds the split in which his generation finds itself very interesting. "Freedom and individuality are very important to us. But how do we ensure that people who, for whatever reason, cannot come along, are still protected? Within the AOb there is room for those questions and together we look for solutions. For example at the Green Golf, part of the AOb for young teachers. ”
That we are no longer concerned with job security, but with job security, that is really nonsense
It is also relevant for young teachers to organize 'countervailing power'. “Because when employers are given too much freedom, arbitrariness arises. I sometimes get annoyed by the way administrators talk about my generation. Recently, in a policy document of the MBO council: all nice words about young teachers who like to be flexible. That it is no longer about job security, but about job security. That is really bullshit. My young colleagues also want to know where they stand. They too want to be able to buy a house. That is why it is important that there is an organization that can speak against them on their behalf. ”
The role of trade unions
During his training as a teacher of Citizenship, Sam already studied the role that labor plays in people's lives and the role of trade unions. “If you just see what unions have achieved for employees in the last hundred years, you just would lid must become."
