International

With postal workers in the United Kingdom entering what is widely expected to be the most bitter industrial dispute since the Miners' Strike of 1984-5, their colleagues in the Netherlands face similar problems. Given that the drive for liberalisation which lies behind the disputes comes from Brussels, this is hardly surprising. In both countries and other European Union member states, the liberalisation of postal services is leading to working conditions akin to those of a century ago or worse. SP Member of Parliament Sharon Gesthuizen reacted to the announcement that postal delivery workers at Dutch national carrier TNT, majority ownership of which is now in private hands, must choose between pay cuts and mass dismissals by describing the ultimatum as offering a false choice. "TNT is degrading postal workers from human beings to 'costs'. The workers have complained that they are being hounded out of their jobs or forced to work unpaid overtime."

"If concrete points can be achieved, we'll stay. If it appears to be a talking shop, then there's nothing in it for us." So says Dennis de Jong, leader of the SP delegation in the European Parliament in relation to the 'Oranjeberaad', an informal consultative body which all Dutch MEPs are invited to attend.