The Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal has mandated an investigation into the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV), the largest trade union in the Netherlands, due to its inability to resolve internal conflicts. The court ruling, issued on Friday, also appoints two new members to the supervisory board as a temporary measure to oversee new board elections and propose organizational improvements.

The decision follows a lawsuit initiated by FNV staff, supported by the works council and sector boards, who sought the Enterprise Chamber’s intervention to address the ongoing crisis within the union. This crisis originated earlier in the year leading up to elections for a new board.

The Enterprise Chamber concurred with the staff’s assessment that the FNV’s various bodies were failing to resolve the conflict through mutual consultation. The court noted that mistrust had escalated to the point where board elections had been postponed twice. An interim board appointed to rectify the situation was dismissed after two months and replaced by new interim managers, while two members of the supervisory board resigned.

The Enterprise Chamber stated that the internal strife has left the FNV without a board with sufficient support and that there is insufficient confidence in the election process. Consequently, the court will appoint two supervisors, whose identities are currently unknown, to ensure fair elections are conducted.

Despite reservations expressed during last week’s hearing, the court ultimately deemed intervention necessary. A judge had remarked on the severity of the situation, noting the FNV’s failure to resolve its internal issues, which necessitated the Enterprise Chamber’s involvement.

In a joint response, the conflicting factions within the FNV stated that they respect the Enterprise Chamber’s ruling. They view it as a crucial step towards restoring peace, trust, and responsible governance, with the goal of creating a future-proof trade union that embodies solidarity, reliability, and strength for its members, employees, and society.