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Trade union strategies for preventing workload and stress in the Netherlands

Trade union strategies for preventing workload and stress in the Netherlands. Jan Warning 10 th European Work Hazards Conference, Riga , Sept 29 200 6. May I introduce myself?.

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Trade union strategies for preventing workload and stress in the Netherlands

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  1. Trade union strategies for preventing workload and stress in the Netherlands Jan Warning 10 th European Work Hazards Conference, Riga , Sept29 2006

  2. May I introduce myself? • FNV Bondgenoten, the biggest union in the Netherlands (460.000 members) in industry, the food sector, agriculture, transport and retail and the private services sector • Head of health and safety department • Dissertation on trade unions and stress

  3. My presentation • Labour relations in the Netherlands • Short theoretical description of stress • How the dutch unions succeeded in the years 1998 – 2003 putting stress at a number 1 priority on the social agenda • The Quick Scan Stress • Evaluation

  4. Working population in the Netherlands 2004 • agriculture 202 • industry 1503 • commercial services 2654 • non commercial services 2331 (x 1000)

  5. Quality of work in the Netherlands • Penetration of computers, IT • Flexibility • High level of productivity

  6. Dutch labour relations • Highly centralized • Unions powerful on the national level and weak on the working floor • Orientation on consensus • 26% unionized

  7. Social questions • In the 80’s shortening working hours(40 -> 37 hours a week) • Together with new technologiesand flexibility this led to prosperity and employment in the 90’s • Problems of workload and stress • Increase of (unofficial and unpaid) overtime

  8. Problems of stress and workload • Workers working at high speed: highest increase in Europe (Dublin foundation) • Disability claimants(1 million of claiments at the end of 20th century) • 1/3 has psychological complaints • Total costs: 2,2 bilions euro a year

  9. Theory about stress • Stress = workers don’t have enough time or exert strength to accomplish the tasks within the available time • A situation of stress will leads to strain • Reduced performance, irritations between colleagues, fatigue and security problems

  10. Consequences • If a situation of stress and strain is structural, this can lead to severe health problems: burn out, a situation of mental exhaustion • Control options can reduce these consequences • Control: possibilities to intervene in the work situation

  11. What are the origins for stress? Complicated and divers: • poor leadership • education • planning and the work organisation • temporary personnel • insufficient tools • continuous rationalisation of the working process

  12. I don’t take fancy in my job I have mental complaints I can’t influence work path I feel exhausted every evening Need for a trade union instrument

  13. It is subjective It is only imagination It is not measurable The problems are due to private circumstances Need for a trade union instrument (2)

  14. Union strategy Unions have to tackle two arguments: • problems are real and not imagination • problems are originated in the work situation Invention of the ‘Quick Scan Stress’

  15. The Quick Scan Stress • Research instrument for trade unionists and works councils • Three steps: • Questionnaire to be distributed among the workers • The answers have to be filled in on the computer program • A push on the button and the scientific report is ready • Costs software and booklet: 60 euro

  16. Control } Planning Control working time Leadership Job satisfaction Temporary personnel Fatigue Automation Workload/stress Health Education Quality Mentaldemands Tools Physicaldemands Multi-skill Emotional demands The theoretical model

  17. The questionnaire • 94 questions • More questions on one subject • Example scale Controlon work • Do you have much to say in what happens in your workplace? • Can you determine the timing of your work activities? • Can you influence your job planning? • Do you have a say in decisions that have an impact on your job? • Scale construction • Compare with reference group

  18. mental demands phys. demands workload/stress working time control job satisfaction Graphical presentation no problems many problems

  19. Origins of workload/stress planning leadership temporary p. automation tools education multi-skill no problems many problems

  20. Evaluation • The Quick Scan Stress important to raise awareness • Two important advantages: • Easy • Scientifically based • It is easier to tackle the problem of stress in companies • Many copies have been sold (also by employers)

  21. Evaluation (2) • Amount of time • A general impression • After collecting information action is needed • Implementation of measures

  22. Evaluation (3) • The dutch experience consists of more than the Quick Scan Stress • Other instruments, information on website • Collective agreements At the moment Dutch unions in a difficult debate about Working Environment Act and Working Times Act

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