On January 1, 2025, secondary education workers across the Netherlands are set to receive significant financial benefits following the recent agreement reached between union representatives and education employers. The collective labor agreement, known as cao, includes salary increases of 4.9 percent, travel reimbursements, and staged compensation, addressing longstanding concerns among educators.
The negotiations unfolded amid pressing challenges, as the unions, represented by the General Education Union (AOb) and the National Union of Employees (CNV), aimed to align salaries with those of primary education workers. The accord signifies the unions' commitment to ensuring fairness and equity across educational sectors, as highlighted by AOb leader Jelmer Evers, who remarked, “A good result, which is close to our goals for the collective labor negotiations.”
With this agreement, all employees who were on payroll on December 1, 2024, will receive one-time compensation of 1.23 percent, acting as retroactive remuneration reflecting the salary hikes. This one-time payment echoes the unions' position to prevent teachers from suffering financial setbacks during the transition to the new salary structures.
Another significant outcome of the negotiations is the introduction of internship compensation for students across various educational tiers. Beginning August 1, 2025, students entering internships will be compensated based on their year of study, with amounts ranging from €200 for second-year students to €800 for fourth-year students. This compensation aims to acknowledge and value the contributions of upcoming professionals, as Evers notes, “It is important to value our incoming colleagues so they can start well in our profession.”
While the focus on financial gains is important, addressing the high levels of work pressure among educators remains another priority of this agreement. Unions have pushed for concrete measures to mitigate workload burdens. CNV negotiator Geert Jan Renkema emphasized the importance of tackling this issue, stating, “We would like national agreements, employers prefer plans at the school level.” To bridge this gap, they have jointly agreed upon commissioning an independent study aimed at assessing workload distribution and task policies across schools. This study, expected to offer insights before April 1, 2025, will be pivotal for developing strategies to alleviate pressures educators face.
The outcome of these negotiations reflects growing awareness from both union leaders and employers about the urgent need to improve working conditions within the education sector. Future discussions will revolve around establishing equitable policies defining maximum lesson loads, class sizes, and preparation time for educators.
Reflecting on the successful negotiations, Evers expressed optimism about the direction this agreement may lead to, stating, “This shows again the value of mobilization and action.” Past petitions against high workload pressures gained significant attention and underscored the unions' resolve to influence real change. Such activism is credited with achieving fruitful agreements for education workers, reinforcing the notion of unity among the teaching profession.
Union members are currently reviewing the agreement, with formal votes set to take place soon. Ensuring broad support among education staff is seen as pivotal for actualizing this deal and enhancing the educational work environment.
Overall, the new cao highlights the urgent needs of educators and aims to implement more sustainable solutions for workload management and fair compensation. With the new agreement potentially taking effect once ratified, education workers look forward to a brighter future within the profession.
