News

Strike wave spreads in Europe due to high cost of living

Published

6 months ago

25/08/2022

Due to the high inflation and high cost of living in Europe caused by the war initiated by Russia in Ukraine, various sector workers in England, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands went on strike one after another.

After the Second World War, the war in Ukraine, described as the biggest humanitarian drama in Europe, left 6 months behind, and the effects of the war began to be felt not only in this country, but also in Europe.

The European Union (EU) member states, which are heavily dependent on Russia in the field of energy, have implemented 7 sanctions packages against the Moscow administration. However, the embargoes that came into force to punish Russia have not only dragged this country but also Europe into a serious economic bottleneck.

Inflation rising to record levels across Europe, unavoidable high cost, and the inability to increase the wages of the workers at the desired level, caused the workers in many countries to decide to strike.

Experts are of the opinion that, especially with the opening of schools in September, economic problems will become much more noticeable in Europe, and that workers will leave their jobs in order to raise their salaries in many countries that have not yet taken a decision to take action or strike.

Many unions strike in England

Labor unions in different sectors have taken collective strike decisions in recent weeks due to the melting of the incomes of the employees in the face of increasing inflation in the UK and the salary hikes offered below the inflation rate.

Alongside the dispute over pay raises, workers are also demanding improvement in working conditions and pension rights.

Those who quit their jobs include subway workers, bus drivers and UBER drivers, teachers, dockers, criminal lawyers, healthcare workers, sanitation workers, aviation and postal service workers.

The strikes of cleaning workers continue in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, with approximately 1900 employees of Felixstowe, which is currently one of the most important ports in England’s freight transport.

Criminal lawyers, who went on strike last month, decided to strike again for the next month as a result of their vote on August 22. Criminal lawyers will go out of business indefinitely in England and Wales from 5 September.

Postal service and telecommunication sector workers in the UK will also hold a work stoppage in the coming days. Health workers in Scotland also voted to go on strike in the coming days.

Strike in Germany costing 35m euros

Despite the holiday period in Germany, on 27 July, upon the call of the Verdi Union, ground staff at Lufthansa went on a warning strike demanding an increase in wages. Munich and Frankfurt airports, one of the country’s most important airports, were locked due to the strike.

Over 1,000 flights were canceled due to the strike, and 134 thousand passengers were affected. After the strike, which cost about 35 million Euros, the employer was able to reach an agreement with the Verdi Union.

On the other hand, collective bargaining negotiations between Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, and the Cockpit Union, the pilots’ union, have stalled.

In a statement made by the Cockpit Union Union, it was stated that the collective bargaining negotiations were stalled and urged members to vote to determine whether they supported the union’s path in the negotiations. As a result of the voting, the union may decide to strike.

Spanish airline workers on strike

The strikes that started in the air transport sector in Spain since the beginning of August have a negative impact on both the passengers and the country’s tourism.

It was stated that many flights were canceled and hundreds of flights were delayed due to the strikes initiated by Ryanair and Easyjet airlines staff and the Iberia Express airline staff will participate in this weekend.

The cabin crew of the Irish airline Ryanair in Spain have been on strike to cover weekdays (Monday-Thursday) since 8 August, after the failure to reach an agreement in the collective bargaining agreement.

At Ryanair, which has flights to airports in 10 cities in Spain, flight attendants announced that they would continue their strike until 7 January 2023 if their demands were not met.

The pilots of the Swiss-based Easyjet airline have also been on strike only on weekends since 12 August, demanding that their salaries be brought back to pre-pandemic levels.

Dutch railway workers on strike

Dutch State Railways (NS) employees decided to strike after their demands for an increase in their salaries were rejected.

The 24-hour strike, which started in the northern region of the country at the call of the Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions (FNV) and other unions, will continue alternately in different regions until 31 August.

In the country, where transportation problems are experienced due to the strike, the unions demand that the monthly salary of NS employees be increased by 100 euros and a one-time payment of 600 euros to the employees due to the increase in inflation and the decrease in purchasing power.

News

Amsterdam ‘fietsflat’ bike parking lot closed

Published

19 hours ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

Amsterdam fietsflat bike parking lot closed

The underwater bike park at Amsterdam Centraal marked the end of an era.

,This week, the old fietsflat parking lot at Stationsplein has closed its doors forever and it has been announced that people have until February 24 to pick up their bikes. It has been announced that the old parking lot will be open every day from 7 am to 7 pm for those who will buy their bikes. It was also stated that the bicycles not received by the deadline will be taken to the Bicycle Depot (Fietsdepot) of the municipality.

Fietsflat, meaning “bike flat”, was located to the west of the main station building. This structure was opened in 2001 and was designed as a temporary solution for passengers who use public transport and need a place to park their bikes.

More than 20 years after it opened its doors, on 30 January fietsflat officially closed, taking with it around 2,500 parking spaces for bicycles. This closure was more than compensated by the addition of two new parking spaces to the station. One of the new parking spaces is known to hold 7,000 bikes under Stationsplein (opened on 26 January) and the other at Ijboulevard (opening 14 February) for 4,000.

According to the municipality’s statement, Fietsflat stood out as an iconic building that captures Amsterdam as a bicycle city in a single image and is therefore frequently photographed by tourists. Although cyclists will no longer be able to use this building, the fietsflat will not be demolished any time soon, and the municipality will keep the building in case additional spaces are needed.

News

15 Buildings Seized in Money Laundering Investigation in the Netherlands

Published

22 hours ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

15 Buildings Seized in Money Laundering Investigation in the Netherlands

On the morning of Tuesday (January 31st), police arrested three people suspected of involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking, and said they would later be prosecuted.

These three men were arrested at their home in Berkel en Rodenrijs and The Hague. In addition to the arrests, fifteen houses were seized in The Hague, Rotterdam, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Hoogvliet, Nootdorp and Den Bosch.
The value of the confiscated properties is estimated at around 11,000,000 euros. The police launched an investigation into the money laundering crimes of the three suspects who were taken into custody. The suspects are known to be 23, 51 and 52 years old. In addition to the value of the properties, the agents seized a large number of valuables during the investigations carried out inside the properties. The government can join forces with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the administration to achieve a more effective result against organized crime.

These crimes are carried out as money laundering because the source of illegally obtained money is hidden in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, theft, social and tax fraud. For this reason, money laundering investigations are never considered the end of the case, but the starting point, and in this case, the investigation will continue without slowing down.

News

Hundreds of Muslims in the Netherlands protested the tearing of the Quran

Published

23 hours ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

Hundreds of Muslims in the Netherlands protested the tearing of the Quran

In the Dutch city of Den Haag, hundreds of Muslims protested the attacks on the Quran by marching.

A large number of Muslims participated in the demonstration called “Stand up against Muslim hatred” organized by the Federation of Islamic Organizations (FIO) and the Union of Islamic Organizations of the Haaglanden District (SIORH).

Protesters gathered in Orange Square in The Hague and marched to Koekamp Square, where the demonstration was held.

Protesters shouted takbir, holding a banner “Stop Muslim hatred. The Qur’an is a manifesto of peace for humanity. Haters should get their hands on it”.
Tahsin Çetinkaya, President of the Turkish-Islamic Culture Foundation, a member of SIORH, who read the press release at the demonstration, said that the hatred of Muslims in the Netherlands had reached a new level.

Stating that it has become normal to hold grudges against Muslims in Dutch society, Çetinkaya said, “Muslims, mosques and other Islamic organizations have been facing various acts of hatred for years.

Noting that the government remained silent on this situation, Çetinkaya said, “We see that the seeds of hatred against Muslims have not stopped yet because of this reprehensible attitude of politicians.

Politicians must now take responsibility for such terrible provocative events and their effects.” Stating that Muslims living in the Netherlands are a part of the country, Çetinkaya said, “Now enough is enough.

Stop holding grudges against Muslims and Islam.” After the speeches, prayers were performed and verses from the Qur’an were read.

No one was allowed to approach Rasmus Paludan, who burned the Quran under police protection in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on January 21, in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

Many Muslim countries, especially Turkey, reacted to the Swedish government’s permission to burn the Qur’an in Paludan. Kerim was on fire.

Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement in the Netherlands, tore the Quran in The Hague. attacks are protested.

News

In the Netherlands, the re-implementation of conscription is discussed

Published

24 hours ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

Re enforcement of conscription in the Netherlands is under discussion

CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra has called for 18-year-olds to choose between “military service or social service”, saying it’s time to reintroduce conscription as the Armed Forces in the Netherlands faces a noticeable staff shortage.

Demanding that 200,000 young people join the armed forces or do some social work each year, Hoekstra said, “Security, democracy and a strong society are not free. Sacrifices must be made for these.” he speaks.

News

World’s first 3d bridge in Amsterdam to be removed soon

Published

24 hours ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

Worlds first 3d bridge in Amsterdam to be removed soon

The “bridge made with 3D printing technology” at Stoofsteeg in the Red Light District (Rosse Buurt) will be removed soon.

It was said from the beginning that the bridge would be temporary. The original bridge, “Stoofbrug”, was removed in 2019 for renovations and was replaced by a temporary bridge made with 3D printing technology, opened by Queen Máxima in July 2021.

The reason for the immediate removal of the bridge is; the permission of the bridge to expire on 27 November 2022. The news site AT5 wrote that the time extension application was rejected.

News

Killed and two injured in knife attack in Delft, Netherlands

Published

1 day ago

06/02/2023

Berry Fox

Killed and two injured in knife attack in Delft Netherlands

A 33-year-old woman was stabbed to death on Sunday in Delft.

The other two victims were hospitalized. Police have arrested a suspect and are continuing their investigation.
The incident occurred at around 11:00 am in Frederik van Eedenlaan. The injured are a 57-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man.

Police have yet to say what the cause is. The victim died at the scene. The 31-year-old suspect was arrested by Belgian police after a chase near Antwerp.

Black screens installed at Frederik van Eedenlaan in Delft. Forensic Medicine teams are investigating the crime scene.

News

Counterfeit currency circulation increased in the Netherlands

Published

1 day ago

05/02/2023

Berry Fox

Counterfeit currency circulation increased in the Netherlands

More counterfeit euro notes were seized in the Netherlands in 2022 than in the previous year. DNB states that two-thirds of these notes are bad imitations.

Although 50 euro banknotes have been the most frequently counterfeited internationally in recent years, the majority of counterfeit money seized in the Netherlands consists of 100 and 200 euro banknotes. The number of counterfeit coins seized in 2022 increased compared to the previous year. According to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the vast majority of counterfeit money consists of badly forged banknotes.

According to the information obtained, 38,200 counterfeit euro banknotes were seized last year, increasing by 47 percent compared to the previous year.

According to the DNB, there are currently 29 billion euro banknotes in circulation, and the chances of finding counterfeit ones in such high amounts are very low. However, the institution, which recently stated that most of the counterfeit money is of bad quality, states that they are noticed more quickly in this way.

In 2020 and 2021, when the corona pandemic was experienced in the Netherlands, the number of counterfeit banknotes was much lower than in previous years. The main reason for this is that citizens prefer the contactless payment option to go out less and prevent the risk of contamination. The number of counterfeit money seized in 2019 was around 39 thousand.

Badly forged banknotes
The DNB states that the counterfeit notes seized last year are of very poor quality and only forge some of the security features of an original note. The bank states that this makes it easier to spot counterfeit money. According to the DNB, nearly two-thirds of the counterfeit notes seized last year were of very poor quality.

Detecting counterfeit money
Some parts of the coin must be carefully examined to determine if a banknote is counterfeit, albeit low in quality.
Counterfeit coins often lack security features such as watermarks and holograms. Apart from the manual touch examination, it is also possible to check whether the DNB is fake through an application used on smartphones.

News

Warning not to use Emtea, the slimming tea sold on social media in the Netherlands

Published

2 days ago

05/02/2023

Berry Fox

Warning not to use Emtea the slimming tea sold on social media in the Netherlands

NVWA; He warned that the slimming tea Emtea, which contains dangerous substances for human health, should not be used.

Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority NVWA warned that Emtea tea, which is used for weight loss, contains substances dangerous for health and should definitely not be used.

Speaking to NPO Radio 1 about the teas in question, NVWA official Martin Kooijman said, “It is stated on the label that it contains very natural and harmless substances, but we are receiving reports that people who use these products have problems with anxiety, high pulse and high blood pressure.” said.

Emtea slimming tea looks like an ordinary tea bag and although it appears to be natural and green plants on the outside, it actually contains harmful substances. Kooijman stated that those who use this tea are playing with their own health, and that it actually contains a substance called “sibutramine”, which was removed from the European market in 2010.

The sale of sibutramine, which was previously used as a drug, was stopped by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2010. Studies have shown that 10-30 percent of ‘healthy’ people who use sibutramine (10-30 mg/day) develop complaints of dizziness, insomnia and dry mouth. In addition, excessive use is suspected to have strong cardiac effects.

It is stated that teas are usually sold through social media platforms Facebook or SnapChat. Kooijman, who stated that it was understood that it was also sold through Markplaats, added: “Another thing that surprises us is that it is spreading by word of mouth.” said. The NVWA official stated that an investigation has been initiated on this issue.

One person died
In a warning made in 2016, it was stated that the use of Emtea slimming teas is popular among Turks. In the same year, a young woman died of a heart attack due to the slimming tea she used. Side Effects Center Lareb and NVIC (poisoning information center) institutions, on the other hand, announced that the complaints of people who experienced serious side effects such as “fear, high heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea and dizziness” increased.

In the same period, NVWA, which published a statement in Turkish about the teas that were stated to be used especially among Turks, drew attention to the fact that this product was sold by vendors going door to door outside of social media.

In 2017, two people who were selling these teas on social media platforms were detained.

News

Netherlands seeks solutions to staff shortage at Schipol airport

Published

2 days ago

05/02/2023

Berry Fox

Netherlands seeks solutions to staff shortage at Schipol airport

Schiphol Airport is expecting more than 1,300 visitors to the job fair it will hold at the airport today to recruit much-needed additional personnel.

Around 50 employers, including large handling companies such as Swissport and Aviapartner, will attend the event and provide information about open positions. Those wishing to attend the job fair can register in advance.

During the busy May holidays and summer season Schiphol may have to limit the number of daily departures. Because the airport still lacks hundreds of employees.

Last month, Schiphol hinted that the restrictions would no longer be necessary after March if the targeted number of staff were recruited. The passenger limit has been in effect since July last year. This practice was initiated due to the shortage of security personnel in Schiphol. From the May holiday this resulted in long queues, sometimes extending beyond the departure hall.

News

Applications that those who will give birth in the Netherlands should know

Published

2 days ago

05/02/2023

Berry Fox

Applications that those who will give birth in the Netherlands should know

It is recommended that you make an appointment with a midwife or obstetrician as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.

In general, pregnant women in the Netherlands are able to visit their midwife / obstetrician every four weeks during the first half of their pregnancy. Usually, the number of appointments increases towards the end of pregnancy.

Dutch health insurance companies usually only reimburse two of the ultrasounds. You can have your first ultrasound exam around week 10 (termijnecho) of your pregnancy, and the second around week 20 (20-wekenecho).

For a long time, home birth was a popular option for pregnant women in the Netherlands, but the number of home births is decreasing. Besides giving birth at home, you can also deliver your baby in a birth center or hospital. You can make the decision that suits you best in consultation with your doctor.

The Netherlands takes great pride in its postnatal care system. In the Netherlands, postpartum care is called “kraamzorg” and is country-specific. A kraamzorg nurse checks on you and your baby every day and also takes care of basic household chores. Legally, you are entitled to kraamzorg for a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 80 hours.

After giving birth, you must register your child with the municipal civil affairs department in the local municipality. You must do this within three days of your child’s birth. A birth certificate will then be issued for your child.

If you have a job in the Netherlands and are pregnant, you are legally entitled to at least 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (6 weeks zwangerschapsverlof, 10 weeks)
bevallingsverlof). Partners of mothers who have just given birth are legally entitled to one working week of paid leave (geboorteverlof). From 1 July 2020, mothers’ spouses can receive an additional 5 weeks of aanvullend geboorteverlof. It is free.