Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond
Encyclopedia
The Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (English: The National Federation of Christian Trade Unions in the Netherlands; CNV) is a federation of trade union
s of the Netherlands
.
as a federation of several Christian unions. It was founded in reaction to the socialist NVV
, which was founded in 1906. The CNV was more moderate than the NVV. It opposed the idea of class struggle
and instead oriented itself towards a corporatist model
of the economy. It was an interconfessional union, intended to represent both Protestant and Roman Catholic workers.
In 1912, however, the Roman Catholic bishops spoke out against interconfessional unions. All Roman Catholics left CNV and founded a separate Roman Catholic union, the RKWV "Rooms-Katholieke Werklieden Verbond" (Roman Catholic Workers' Union). The CNV orientated itself towards the Protestant Anti Revolutionary Party
, with which it formed the Protestant pillar.
After the Second World War, the corporatist model, which the CNV advocated was introduced in the Netherlands, this was combined with a strong welfare state
. Unions received more influence in Dutch politics: the CNV became part of the Social-Economic Council
an advisory board of government composed of representatives from unions, employers' organizations and independent scientists.
Because of the depillarization of Dutch society and the rising political polarization between left and right, the three major unions, the socialist NVV, the Protestant CNV and the Catholic NKV began to open talks in order to found one single federation of Dutch unions. In 1974 the CNV left those talks. In 1976 the NVV and NKV merged to form the FNV
, which was led by Wim Kok
.
and workers' ownership of the means of production. Gradually, however, it oriented itself towards cooperation with the employers' organizations and a corporatist model
of the economy. The CNV still prefers cooperating with employers over strike
s.
In recent years it has been more successful in adapting to new societal trends compared to the FNV. It has founded a youth union, CNV-jong to address the issues of the aging population
and it has campaigned on issues of international cooperation with a separate organization called CNV international.
. Former CNV vice chair Aart-Jan de Geus served between 2002 and 2007 as CDA minister of Social Affairs and Employment for instance.
The eleven affiliated unions are:
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
History
The CNV was founded on May 13, 1909, in ArnhemArnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
as a federation of several Christian unions. It was founded in reaction to the socialist NVV
Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
The Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen was a Dutch social-democratic trade union.-History:...
, which was founded in 1906. The CNV was more moderate than the NVV. It opposed the idea of class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
and instead oriented itself towards a corporatist model
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
of the economy. It was an interconfessional union, intended to represent both Protestant and Roman Catholic workers.
In 1912, however, the Roman Catholic bishops spoke out against interconfessional unions. All Roman Catholics left CNV and founded a separate Roman Catholic union, the RKWV "Rooms-Katholieke Werklieden Verbond" (Roman Catholic Workers' Union). The CNV orientated itself towards the Protestant Anti Revolutionary Party
Anti Revolutionary Party
The Anti Revolutionary Party was a Dutch Protestant Christian democratic political party. The ARP is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal. After 1917 the party never received more than twenty percent of the vote.-History before 1879:The anti-revolutionary parliamentary caucus...
, with which it formed the Protestant pillar.
After the Second World War, the corporatist model, which the CNV advocated was introduced in the Netherlands, this was combined with a strong welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
. Unions received more influence in Dutch politics: the CNV became part of the Social-Economic Council
Social-Economic Council
The Sociaal-Economische Raad is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. Formally it heads a system of sector-based regulatory organizations. It represents the social partners trade unions and employers' organizations...
an advisory board of government composed of representatives from unions, employers' organizations and independent scientists.
Because of the depillarization of Dutch society and the rising political polarization between left and right, the three major unions, the socialist NVV, the Protestant CNV and the Catholic NKV began to open talks in order to found one single federation of Dutch unions. In 1974 the CNV left those talks. In 1976 the NVV and NKV merged to form the FNV
Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
, which was led by Wim Kok
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
.
Activities
The most important function of CNV is the CAO-talks, over wages and secondary working conditions, it holds with the employers' federations. It also advises government via the Social Economic Council in which other unions, the employers' organizations and government appointed experts also have seats.Ideology
The CNV started out as a moderate, Christian-democratic union, which was opposed to class struggleClass struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
and workers' ownership of the means of production. Gradually, however, it oriented itself towards cooperation with the employers' organizations and a corporatist model
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
of the economy. The CNV still prefers cooperating with employers over strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
s.
In recent years it has been more successful in adapting to new societal trends compared to the FNV. It has founded a youth union, CNV-jong to address the issues of the aging population
Demographics of the Netherlands
This article is about the demographic of the Netherlands, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.-Population size:...
and it has campaigned on issues of international cooperation with a separate organization called CNV international.
Organization
The CNV is a federation of eleven affiliated trade unions. Its board is formed by four daily boardmembers (a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary and a treasurer), and the chairs of the eleven affiliated unions. The CNV has around 355,000 members. The current chair is Jaap Smit. Although the CNV is formally independent of other organizations there are strong ideological and personal links with the CDAChristian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
. Former CNV vice chair Aart-Jan de Geus served between 2002 and 2007 as CDA minister of Social Affairs and Employment for instance.
The eleven affiliated unions are:
- CNV Bedrijvenbond: the industrial union with around 88,000 members;
- CNV PublicCNV PublicCNV Public is a trade union affiliate of the Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond in the Netherlands. It was formed in 1983 from the merger of the ARKA, NCBO, and the NCVVV.CNV Public represents civil servants and healthcare workers in the Netherlands....
: which represents the interests of civil servants and healthcare personnel. It has around 84,000 members; - CNV Onderwijsbond: the teacherTeacherA teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s' union with around 56,000 members; - CNV Hout- en Bouwbond: which represents the interests of workers in constructionConstructionIn the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
and woodwork. It has around 54,000 members; - CNV Dienstenbond: the services union with around 37,000 members;
- Algemene Christelijke Politiebond: which represents the interest of policePoliceThe police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
personnel and has around 21,000 members; - ACOM: the military union;
- CNV Kunstenbond: the artsArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
union, with around 6,000 members; - CNV Kosterbond: which represents those employed by the church;
- CNV Jongeren: the young people's union with around 1,300 members.