Polderen en strijden / Poldering and Struggle Highs and lows of the trade union movement in the 21st century

The first twenty-five years of the 21 and The 20th century was anything but quiet for the FNV. The book "Polderen enstrijden" (Poldering and Struggle) provides an overview of the most important actions and developments in the field of employment conditions and relations during this period. This is based on conversations and lectures held on November 6, 2024, at a conference where Paul de Beer retired as professor of the Henri Polak Chair. In the first seven chapters, De Beer interviews key players in actions and agreements from within the FNV. Each conversation is then reflected upon by a scholar. Union officials include Lodewijk de Waal, Agnes Jongerius, and Ton Heerts. Scholars include Coen Teulings, Romke van der Veen, and Maarten Keune. The following are discussed: the largest trade union demonstration ever (2004), the cleaners' strikes (2010, 2012 and 2014), the pension system reform (2011), the Mondriaan Agreement (2013), teachers' actions (2017), actions in distribution centres (2017) and platform work (2019).