Empty seats represent shortages in the public sector
A policeman could have been here. A teacher or a colleague from the hospital. Rows of empty chairs on the grass of Malieveld in The Hague today depicted colleagues who cannot be found. The FNV has made it clear to politicians with an online campaign that the public sector has been neglected for years and that now is the time for investment.
Image: Kim van Strien /Algemene Onderwijsbond
Not with thousands of colleagues side-by-side with banners in the air. Demonstrations as we have been used to in education in recent years and where the message was made clear by the masses. It was the opposite: a virtually empty field with rows of black and white empty seats forced by the corona measures. Online was busier with public sector employees using the hashtag #support public sector now, took action together and watched from behind their laptop. The AOb took part in the campaign and again called on politicians to invest in education.
Undervaluation
“The problems in healthcare, defense and police are actually the same as in education,” says AOb-head driver and teacher of secondary education Kim van Strien who was one of the presenters of the action on the Malieveld. “We were labeled 'crucial' during the corona crisis, but we have a huge staff shortage. The workload is high. If you are in a hospital or you walk into a police station, people are searched everywhere. The problem is the undervaluation. Wages are lagging behind and there must be more confidence in your professionalism, so that you have enough autonomy. In short, the profession must become more attractive. ”
The large number of temporary contracts in academic education is really distasteful
Mary Jongsma, AObhead director of WO&O and assistant professor at Radboud University, called the workload 'gigantic'. “The tasks are constantly increasing. Every year there are more students, but fewer people. The large number of temporary contracts in academic education are really distasteful. Flexible working is a disaster, also for the quality of education. ”
A yellow school bus on the Malieveld to draw attention to investments in education. Image: Kim van Strien /Algemene Onderwijsbond
Front line
A bright yellow school bus and a dark green army vehicle zoomed through the frame. Vehicles were parked on the cordoned off part of Malieveld that clearly showed which sectors were taking action. For example, the defense employee wanted attention for the young people within the army. He thinks that they are undervalued, while they are literally in the front line. “They receive a basic salary that really touches the poverty line. They want to go on an exercise to be able to pay their families.” A prison employee says that he and his colleagues are lagging behind the market after years of zero line. “Sick leave is high. Wage is about appreciation and recognition. What we are now being offered is outrageous. That just has to change.”
Promises
In the 45-minute online program, not only the public sector employees argued for investment. Author Sander Heijne of the book Phantom growth supports the call. “I hope that this day will help politicians to see that we need a strong public sector to also have a strong economy.” For too long, the idea has existed that companies earn the money and that the public sector mainly costs money.
Economist and lecturer at Leiden University Wimar Bolhuis told presenter Van Strien between the empty chairs that he very much hopes that the conclusions from his doctoral research will not be confirmed this time. Bolhuis did research to the election promises and what will be implemented next. “You often see that the promises of additional investments in the public sector are never kept. Water is always added to the wine. ” Bolhuis hopes that the corona crisis will bring about a turnaround. “Now is the time to press ahead and cross the bridge in this cabinet formation. The interest is low, the Dutch state can now spend the money. ”
Not one-off money, but structural money is needed to make the employment conditions attractive. Now is the time for that turnaround
Less modest
According to Tuur Elzinga, the brand new chairman of the FNV, the corona crisis is one wake up call. “The public sectors are the backbone of society. We have seen that so clearly. It is essential that we have the public affairs in order. Otherwise things will go from bad to worse. Now is the time for that turnaround. Not for one-off money, but for structural money. This is necessary to make the terms of employment attractive. ”
In addition to the clear investment call to the yet to be formed new cabinet, there was an appeal to the personnel in the public sectors themselves. Just before the end of the program, Elzinga urged employees to join unions and unite as much as possible. In turn, author Heijne argued that government employees are more modest than employees in the business world. “Be less timid and stand up for yourself. You are indispensable. When the essential no longer functions, any form of prosperity will cease in this country. Stand up for it. ”
