UG staff strike again on 10 June 2025 (update: cancellation)

Update 9 June 2025: Due to the extension of the NS strike, the central action in Amsterdam has been canceled. The organization plans to present a new action after the summer.

Although this central action has been canceled, the unions are not revoking the strike. This means that employees may still strike if they wish.

Update 10 June 2025: on 10 June at noon, Organize the RUG organizes a gathering at the Groningen Central Station at the Peerd van Ome Loeks (the horse statue). With this gathering, they want to create a space to voice our concerns about the budget cuts, to share views on the postponed strike, and start conversations on how to move forward from here.

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On 18 March 2025, thousands of staff members of the University of Groningen joined the strike and protest march against the cuts to higher education. This strike was part of a national series of relay strikes. A new collective day of action will follow on 10 June, including a gathering at the Dam Square in Amsterdam. Staff members will again put their work on hold to draw attention to the disastrous consequences of the planned cuts. Members of the Board of the University (CvB) support the message; they will wear red squares on this day as a sign of protest and invite staff to do the same.

Earlier this post stated that the gathering would be at Malieveld in The Hague. On 3 June, it was announced that the action has been moved to the Dam Square in Amsterdam, due to a planned strike by the NS in the region in and around The Hague.

National strike day

Previous strikes were held in a relay format: universities and universities of applied sciences went on strike one by one. This time, the organizing parties have opted for a joint protest on 10 June 2025 at the Dam Square in Amsterdam. More information about the strike, materials, travel costs, and rights and obligations during a strike can be found on the  AOb and FNV websites, among others. The local group Organize the RUG plans to organize meetings, provide training, and arrange transport by hired buses. Staff members can sign up for their mailing list via the website to stay informed.

Participation in strike

The strike at the UG is organized by the unions FNV, AOb, and other national groups. More information and the exact details of the strike can be found on their channels. UG staff may decide for themselves whether they want to join the strike, even if they are not members of one of the organizations involved. No pay will be withheld from staff participating in the strike. Participants are requested to inform their supervisor about their participation. The CvB considers it important that all planned assessments can go ahead and asks academic staff to take this into account. On the FNV website, staff members can find more information about their rights and obligations during a strike. Students may also join the protests.

Transport

We are organizing buses to Amsterdam due to the construction work at Groningen station. Please indicate, if you want to join the buses, on the registration form (if you have not already done so) that you work or study at the University of Groningen. This will help us estimate the number of people attending. You will receive information of the departure times and location.

Major cuts

In the Framework Coalition Agreement, the government announced major cuts to higher education and science. The government later confirmed these plans in the Budget Memorandum. Combined with the announced Internationalization in Balance Act (WIB), this means that the UG will have to make substantial savings in the coming years, potentially reaching approximately €80 million by 2030. On 11 June, the Dutch House of Representatives will vote on the Spring Memorandum, which covers these cuts.

Important function

The CvB has previously been critical of the cuts. Partly thanks to the lobbying of our CvB, some of the cuts have already been withdrawn. They also lobbied for an exception to the WIB. Although the austerity plans have been adjusted, they still put severe pressure on the quality of research, teaching, and accessibility for students. The UG is firmly rooted in the Northern Netherlands and plays an important role in the region. With our teaching and research, we work towards developing talent and a better, sustainable society. The planned cuts seriously jeopardize these goals.