Together at the table, standing still is not an option

On Thursday, 4 December, we finally sat down with HISWA-RECRON and CNV for the CLA negotiations. Employers previously wanted to hit the pause button, but for recreation workers who work daily under high pressure and rising costs, a pause is not an option. That’s why we continue to press for progress.

Why it needs to happen now

The concerns in the sector are significant, for both employers and employees. Employers are worried about higher costs due to VAT increases, salary rises, and new legislation. At the same time, we hear a clear and recognisable story on the work floor:

• remuneration is lagging
• work pressure is increasing
• staff shortages are growing
• only 29% are satisfied with the Updates employment conditions
• many employees doubt whether they can sustain this work.

Employers also acknowledge that things cannot continue like this. As one of them said: “We invest in recruitment and image, but do nothing about employment conditions. Other sectors are already ahead.”

The reality is that employees are already under pressure today. Stagnation means the situation will only worsen further.

What we have proposed

We presented the key findings of our CLA survey. Employees clearly indicate that they need recognition, rest, and fair remuneration. With inflation at 3.1% and structurally high work pressure, doing nothing is not an option. Therefore, we emphasised:

• that visible steps are needed by 1 January 2026
• that temporary solutions are discussable, but only with clear agreements
• that anything agreed later must apply retroactively.

We remain willing to think along, but understanding must come from both sides.

Next step

HISWA-RECRON will now seek approval (mandate) from their members. We expect clarity before the end of the year. 

We continue to commit ourselves to a modern, future-proof CLA that does justice to everyone who keeps this wonderful sector running.

Regards,

Johan Bijlsma
union representative Recreation