#I earn more, whether negotiating or not
De AOb continues with the action #ikverdienmeer, even now that the negotiations have run aground for a new cabinet. 'The workload has to go down and the salary has to go up. So shout it from the rooftops, post it on Facebook, share it on Twitter: you earn more, ”writes AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen.
It is going too far to say that I was shocked when the news came yesterday that the negotiations for a cabinet of VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks have stranded for now. The visions of the four parties are very different - also in the field of education - and it says a lot about the will to come out that they have continued to seek compromises for so long.
What that compromise on the education file would have looked like: we can only guess. The signals we received last week during the parliamentary debate about workload and pay in primary education did not bode well. Particularly at the VVD there was a sentiment in the spirit of 'with a pat on the head, the education staff is also satisfied' as soon as it was suggested that the salary should be increased and the workload reduced.
Strike fund
A day later we broke down with the board of the AOb a knot through:
We advise the association to open the strike fund this week.
This has cleared a formal hurdle and we can start preparations for work stoppage as soon as we see reason to do so.
The fact that the negotiations have stalled does not mean that we will let go of that intention. On the contrary: it is obvious that the VVD, as by far the largest party, will continue to move and I will not say anything crazy if it is obvious that the CDA will also continue to participate in every combination with the conservative-liberal party. And that of the four negotiating parties is precisely the two that, in any case, want to invest the least in education in the election program.
Get on
So as I assume that the colleagues from PO in Actie will continue with their initiatives, the AOb #I earn more, preferably with all other organizations that are in action. Because today it may be even more needed than yesterday.
Of course: we will concentrate less on the four negotiating parties and look more broadly at the Binnenhof. For that reason we have postponed a visit to the party offices of VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks. Because although D66 and GroenLinks already understand that our education requires major investments, they are also nowhere near the 6 billion euros extra that we need annually to get our labor market healthy again.
Conversation
We are happy to discuss this. Not only with MPs, but precisely at party level: that is where the programs are written, and the long-term vision is determined there. We plan that trip later, probably with a change in the route. Two days after failed negotiations, the parties have something else to do and we understand that.
But #I earn more alive. The workload must be reduced and the salary must be increased. Education can only offer optimum quality with a healthy labor market. So shout it from the rooftops, post it on Facebook, share it on Twitter: you earn more.
Elisabeth Verheggen, AObchairman
