Unionized Military
Unlike many military organizations, Dutch military members are allowed to form and join unions.
There are four of these unions:
- Algemene Federatie van Militair Personeel (AFMP, General Federation of Military Personnel), which was recognized by the Dutch government in 1966. The AFMP is a member of the Dutch Federation of Trade Unions (FNV).
- Algemeen Christelijke Organisatie van Militairen (ACOM, General Christian Organisation for Military Personnel). The ACOM is a member of the Dutch Christian National Trade Union (CNV).
- Federatie van Nederlandse Officieren en Middelbaar en Hoger Burgerpersoneel bij Defensie (FVNO/MHB, Federation of Dutch Officers and Middle- and Seniorlevel Civilian Personnel), which was recognized by the Dutch government in 2004. The FVNO/MHB is a member of the Dutch confederation of groups of middle and senior staffmembers.
- Vakbond voor Defensiepersoneel VBM/NOV (VBM/NOV, Union for Defence Personnel).
All unions represent both current and retired military personnel and/or civilian personnel.
== Bthe election campaigns, the Rutte cabinet decided in 2011 to cut military spending by as much as 20%, bringing it to 0.9% GDP, or €7 billion.
Read more about this topic: Armed Forces Of The Netherlands
Famous quotes containing the word military:
“War both needs and generates certain virtues; not the highest, but what may be called the preliminary virtues, as valour, veracity, the spirit of obedience, the habit of discipline. Any of these, and of others like them, when possessed by a nation, and no matter how generated, will give them a military advantage, and make them more likely to stay in the race of nations.”
—Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)