WILLEMSTAD - On Tuesday, October 29, a meeting was held between the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (OWCS), Mr. Sithree van Heydoorn, his cabinet, a representative from the Ministry of Governance, Planning, and Public Services (BPD), and representatives from the union DOEN. The purpose of this meeting was to address the union’s points of concern.
Following the meeting, the minister noted inaccuracies in the public statements regarding the meeting’s progress and the agreements made. He emphasized the need for clarification to ensure transparency and to set realistic expectations for the next steps.
During the meeting, DOEN presented a PowerPoint outlining various focus points and potential solutions. As acknowledged by the union, these solutions were preliminary, lacking detailed legal and financial substantiation. Such details are essential for assessing the feasibility and practicality of the proposed solutions.
The union proposed establishing a working group comprising representatives from DOEN, OWCS, and BPD to further refine these solutions. The goal is to collaboratively develop actionable proposals that can be prepared for decision-making.
During the recent meeting with the union DOEN, the Minister refrained from issuing any judgment on the content of the union’s proposals but posed critical questions regarding their substantiation and feasibility. The Minister also emphasized that the 12.5% adjustment to employment terms was not an isolated policy but a condition set by the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic for loan assistance. This requirement aimed to help manage government operational costs and community support measures, securing salaries for civil servants, teachers, and comparable roles. Both government officials and civil servants made sacrifices during this time out of solidarity despite significant challenges. The union did not dispute this point, and it remains incorrect to frame this adjustment as an independent measure.
Additionally, both the Minister and the representative from the BPD pointed out that the proposed three-week timeframe is unrealistic due to the complexity of the issues, which require thorough research and detailed advisement. It was also clarified to the unions that the ministry is already working on initiatives to strengthen job security for both teaching and non-teaching staff. Meanwhile, the BPD is handling the current procedures regarding the repeal of Article 9 of the LvO on labor condition cuts. This timeframe is, therefore, not feasible. The meeting further highlighted that developing the proposed solutions requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving essential contributions from the Legislation and Legal Affairs (WJZ) and Finance departments.
The Minister also noted that DOEN is not the sole union representing the interests of teaching and non-teaching staff, which must also be taken into account. For this reason, the Minister focused on listening to the points raised and discussing process steps.
Minister Van Heydoorn concluded by stating, “As leaders, representatives, and unions, we have a duty to serve those who have placed their trust in us. This responsibility entails being transparent and providing accurate information. False hope and misinformation erode trust and the willingness to collaboratively work toward sustainable solutions.”