National strike on 10 June
On 10 June, students and staff from all the Dutch universities will go on strike against the government’s proposed budget cuts. The day after the strike, on 11 June, the House of Representatives will debate the Spring Budget Memorandum, which includes the proposed cuts. The university supports this new strike but will remain open.
The national strike is the initiative of the FNV and AOB trade unions, the LSVb student union and WOinActie. These organisations coordinated previous demonstrations in November and March, which saw a high turnout. They hope to mobilise students and staff from across the country to gather once again at Malieveld in The Hague.
The Executive Board and deans fully support this initiative, which allows students and staff to raise their voices once again against the cuts and the erosion of higher education.
University to remain open
Our buildings will remain open on 10 June. The Executive Board will make every effort to ensure essential activities such as exams, PhD ceremonies and inaugural lectures can go ahead as planned.
University staff are free strike on 10 June. We would appreciate it if they could inform their students and managers that they plan to do so. We want to prevent young researchers from having to cancel their PhD defence or students from missing compulsory exams or practicals and consequently fall behind.
Demonstration in The Hague
The unions and WOinActie are currently working together to finalise the details of the strike. What is certain is that the demonstration will be held on the Tuesday afternoon at Malieveld in The Hague.
The details of the strike are still being finalised, so please keep an eye on updates.