Dutch classrooms empty again as teachers strike

Elementary schools stayed closed across the Netherlands yesterday, as thousands of teachers went on strike for the second time in two months to demand higher pay and better working conditions.

The previous one-day strike was in October, when eleventh-hour funding promises by the government failed to avert the largest work stoppage by Dutch primary school teachers since the 1980s.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte offered them 700 million euros ($825 million) in extra funds over the next four years, but they say they need double that to cover salary increases and pay for classroom assistants.

Participation in yesterday's stoppage among the Netherlands' 100,000 primary teachers appeared to be high, with unions estimating around 90 percent of schools remained shut.

The strike reflects growing frustration across the Dutch workforce, with employees in many sectors feeling left behind by strong economic growth that has not been matched by wage increases.

Primary school teachers have demanded a one-time 1.4 billion euro cash injection to bring their salaries up to the level of their counterparts in secondary schools, who on average earn 20 percent more.

For many teachers the confrontation with the state is also about a serious labour shortage that has increased their workload.