The Netherlands: The representativesness of trade unions and employer associations in the food and drink sector

The rationalisation of production and the export of production have had a significant effect on industrial relations in the Netherlands food and drink sector. In collective bargaining both at multi-employer and at company level, the role of the social partners is evident. Among employees the organisational density of 25% is around the national average. Employees are represented through unions of the three main national organisations FNV, CNV and De Unie. The employer organisation FNLI organises around 80% of the sector’s employers. The FNLI concerns itself primarily and with success (also at European level) with the commercial interests of the sector, its employers and their organisations. However, employers are much harder to organise around collective bargaining issues. Employers are organised in many different associations, organisations which sign the collective agreements. Both consultation between the social partners and the authorities and bipartite social partner initiatives are common.