For the past ten days, a wave of Polish labourers employed by staffing agencies has halted order‑picking operations at several Dutch supermarket distribution centres. The walk‑out, which began in Pijnacker on June 25, quickly spread to Zwolle, Geldermalsen and Tilburg, involving roughly 200 to 300 workers – most of them stationed at Albert Heijn facilities through the Otto Workforce and Tempo‑Team agencies.
Why the strike matters
The protest is not just about a wage bump. It targets a new collective labour agreement (CAO) set to kick in on 1 January 2026. While the agreement promises "equivalent treatment" for agency staff and directly hired employees, union officials argue that many of its clauses will actually squeeze agency workers, who already endure lower pay, fewer benefits and housing tied to their employer.
"Agency workers are a marginalised group," says Anja Dijkman, a labour‑negotiator at the FNV federation. "Their housing often depends on their employer. It takes courage to strike under those conditions." Dijkman’s remarks underline a broader issue: temporary staff in the Netherlands frequently live in employer‑provided accommodation, making them vulnerable to sudden job loss.
The strike also shines a light on the Dutch reliance on migrant labour for essential supply‑chain jobs. Cihan Ugural of FNV warned that without Polish pickers, “the country would have to close down.” Such statements reflect a stark reality – a significant portion of the workforce that keeps supermarkets stocked is made up of foreign nationals who are often overlooked in policy debates.
Union pressure and what lies ahead
FNV’s involvement has turned the local protest into a national conversation about temporary employment. By gathering around 150 demonstrators in Rotterdam last week, the union demonstrated both solidarity with the strikers and the potential economic impact of a prolonged shutdown. Retail analysts note that any disruption at Albert Heijn’s distribution hubs can ripple through the Dutch grocery market, which accounts for roughly 30% of all food sales in the country.
While the agencies involved – Otto Workforce and Tempo‑Team – have not publicly detailed their response, insiders suggest they are weighing the cost of conceding to union demands against the risk of supply‑chain bottlenecks during peak summer months. The CAO’s "equivalent treatment" clause could mean higher wages and better benefits for agency staff, raising operational costs for the agencies and, by extension, the supermarkets they serve.
For the workers on the ground, the stakes are personal. Many have families back in Poland and rely on the steady income and housing their Dutch employers provide. A loss of employment would mean not only a loss of earnings but also a potential eviction from employer‑owned rooms, leaving them with few alternatives.
The strike’s momentum has sparked discussions in the European Parliament about the rights of temporary workers across member states. If the Dutch example leads to stricter regulations, it could set a precedent for other countries that depend heavily on migrant labour for logistics and retail.
As the 1 January 2026 deadline approaches, both sides appear locked in a tense negotiation. The union has called for clearer safeguards in the CAO to protect agency workers from unfair treatment, while agencies argue that the agreement already balances the interests of all parties. What remains clear is the power of collective action: a relatively small group of agency workers strike participants has already forced the national conversation onto the front pages.
