The Netherlands: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the road transport and logistics sector

The major economic developments in this important sector in the Dutch economy have for the most part been determined by the political process of liberalisation. Negative side effects however have slowed down this process of liberalisation. Since 2008 the economic downturn has had its impact on the sector. The transport of goods, over road and rail, has been most hardly hid. The transport of passengers has remained more or less stable over the years. Employers are organised in subsector organisations for road transport of freight, TLN, and of persons, KNV. On the road extended collective agreements are usual, although there are exceptions. On the railways, companies themselves negotiate over labour terms. On union side the two main union federations - FNV Bondgenoten and CNV Vakmensen - have a social partner role at sector level. The social partners approach during the economic crisis has been cooperative.