Municipalities negotiate collective agreement   

By The Holland Times Thursday 06 May 2010, 10:05

Amsterdam cleaning crews have launched a strike on Thursday. Unions expect the strike to last for at least one week as cleaners and employees fight for a better collective agreement.

Municpalities and unions will resume netotiations tomorrow. The cleaners have said they will only return to work when an agreement is reached over wage compensation. Already, streets in the capital are suffering from the strike, with overflowing trash cans and litter-strewn sidewalks. 

Queen Beatrix announced the strike, which extends to The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam. 

The issue is further complicated with this weekend's Giro d'Italia race, set to take off from Amsterdam. The city has raised five million euros for the tour, and officials are worried that the cleaning strike will overshadow the cycling event. 

According to de Volkskrant, municipalities are aiming for a quick solution to the collective bargaining dispute. 

Amsterdam Deputy Mayor Lodewijk Asscher (PvdA) has appealed to city locals and visitors to do what they can to keep the city clean during the stirke.