News milk
Wages in dairy industry 4,75% higher with new collective labor agreement
The approximately 12.000 employees in the dairy industry have a new, one-year collective labor agreement in sight. The unions have reached a negotiation result on this, reports CNV negotiator Henk Jongsma. "A good result, wages will increase by 4,75% this year. We are presenting this positively to our members."
The new collective labor agreement has a term of one year, from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026. During this period, wages will increase in two steps: by 3% from the current month of April and by another 1% from August 2025, 1,75.
As of April 1, 2025, shift workers will receive an additional allowance of €60 gross per month (part-timers pro rata). Jongsma says in a statement: "This is compensation for the time shift workers spend changing and ensuring a good handover. Up until now, this always had to be done in their own time. That's actually strange, because you come to work earlier for it. That extra time will now be rewarded."
The arrangements for older employees are being improved. This will give more employees the opportunity to work a little less or to retire earlier, if they so wish. Bereavement leave will be extended to (a maximum of) five days in the event of the death of a direct family member. CNV members can vote on the result in the coming weeks. The union will present the collective labour agreement result to them in a positive manner.
The Dairy Industry CAO (CAO Dairy) applies to some 12.000 employees at thirteen different employers, spread across a total of forty locations. Well-known employers include FrieslandCampina, Arla Foods, Royal A-ware and Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods.
Klaas van der Horst
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