Cleaners in the netherland went on strike and occupied

After a few weeks of protests and negotiations, cleaners in The Netherland went on strike on the 27th of February.
Yesterday, they occupied the VU University of Amsterdam with the help of dozens of activists with the intention of doing an ongoing sit-in.

The contractors of the cleaning companies such as Philips, the ministries and the universities proceed to gradually cut back on cleaning expenses. The cleaning companies accommodate these cuts by increasing the workload extremely and worsening the working conditions.
The cleaners do not ask for much, just for respect and the appreciation of their job, for paid sick leave and a normal workload.

Yesterday, nice events were organized, people talked to the students. The union of university employees supported the strike and they tried to link the struggle of the cleaners with the problems of the university personnel. At the end of the day, after meeting some of the demands (6 fired workers were given another 6-month contract and the university will send a letter to the cleaning companies saying that they support the demands of the cleaners), the union of the cleaners decided to end the sit in.

Given the willingness of people for action and given the way that the cleaners themselves presented their struggle (with demands that included solidarity with the personel of the university), for many of the participants and supporters of the strike this was a rather shocking experience. Actually, there was no real democratic procedure followed for the end of the action: the decision was taken in 2 seconds and then the cleaners left the area within 20 min.

: FNV Schoon Genoeg