ANWB seeks court ban on twelve-hour Monday strike

The ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, is going to the summary-proceedings judge (kortgedingrechter) in Utrecht on Friday to stop a strike that unions have announced for Monday at, among others, Wegenwacht, its roadside assistance service.

The organisation wants to prevent motorists with breakdowns from being left helpless by the roadside because roving ANWB staff have stopped work.

The unions have announced a 12-hour work stoppage for Monday. It will come with a demonstration (a rally) at the Malieveld in The Hague.

The court hearing is on Friday, three days before the planned stoppage.

FNV and CNV have been taking action at the ANWB for some time to back their demands for a better collective labour agreement (cao). Those actions have so far had little impact on ANWB members, an ANWB spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said the ANWB is not against striking. "But we also have a responsibility to our members," she said.