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Beer cans in a Heineken brewery (2018): The warehouses are still full
Photo: Paulo Whitaker/ REUTERS
Workers at the Heineken brewery in the Netherlands have gone on strike for the first time since 1994.
In two breweries in the cities of Den Bosch and Zouterwoude, a total of 250 employees stopped work for a day, as reported by the Dutch media.
Heineken stopped production at the two breweries.
There had previously been no agreement in the negotiations on higher wages.
The spokesman for the Dutch trade union federation FNV told the news agency AFP that the workers' demands were still below the rate of inflation.
Heineken offered an increase of 3.5 percent.
Inflation in the Netherlands reached 5.7 percent in December.
The union is also calling for better pension schemes and permanent positions.
A representative of the Heineken management told the broadcaster NOS that the company would like to continue negotiations.
The strike was "hasty".
The group representative assured that the supply of beer to the supermarkets was not at risk.
The warehouses are well stocked.
Bars and restaurants in the Netherlands currently have completely different concerns anyway – they are closed due to the corona pandemic.
Heineken is the second largest brewery group in the world.
During the last strike in 1994, workers occupied the factory gates for days, worrying the country that there might be a shortage of beer for Queen Beatrix's birthday.
mic/AFP