Trade union FNV foresees actions at UvA around “lack of demonstration rights”
Trade union FNV is upset that the UvA board would not enter into talks with its own employees about the right to demonstrate at the UvA. The university thinks this is nonsense and says it is happy to have the conversation, but also believes that FNV has “no formal negotiating position” in any revision of internal rules. Actions may follow.
During the large-scale pro-Palestine demonstrations at the UvA last spring, some of the campaigning staff felt that the right to demonstrate was trampled on by the way the UvA and/or the police forces acted. For instance, no tent camps were allowed on the UvA at night and the UvA reported local and site trespass several times, after which the police intervened.
“Endangered”
Several activists disagreed with this UvA-policy. They felt that a fundamental right such as the right to demonstrate was not respected by the UvA. Trade union FNV also monitored the matter and later concluded that the freedom to demonstrate had been “endangered”. UvA members of FNV allegedly asked the national union to enter into talks with the UvA on their behalf about the right to demonstrate and the UvA’s house rules.
The UvA does not agree with this. A spokesperson of university president Edith Hooge says: “Over the past few months, staff and students have been able to give their input on the assessment framework to be established for entering into international cooperation. The FNV is now demanding a formal negotiating position from the UvA on this assessment framework and the revision of our house and demonstration rules, but the FNV, as a trade union, has no negotiating position on that point. These are matters that we discuss and decide with our own employee representation and with the UvA community. However, we appreciate that unions want to make their contribution. That is why it has been suggested to union representatives within the UvA that the draft house and demonstration rules should also be submitted to them.”
Refusal
FNV executive Bernard Koekoek feels that there is “a reluctant and technocratic” attitude from the UvA, saying: “Our members have the last word. If they decide to take action, they will have the full support of the FNV.” The UvA finds the FNV’s reaction “unnecessarily escalating and unfortunate”.
