Drs. A.M. (Agnes) Jongerius

Agnes Jongerius (1960) is member of the European Parliament and vice-chair of the committee on employment and social affairs. She rose to prominence as chair of the largest federation of trade unions in the Netherlands, a position she held from 2005 to 2012. Jongerius was known for both her tenacity and her understanding of complex issues. Agnes Jongerius is still involved with initiative aimed at strengthening the position of women in the public and corporate sector.

In 2012 Jongerius became a researcher at the University of Utrecht. Her research focuses on the relationship between the EU and its citizens. In 2014 Jongerius stood candidate for the European Parliament for the Dutch Labour Party.

1. Personal data

Name and surname

Agnes M. Jongerius

Date of birth

November 4th 1960

Place of birth

De Meern (The Netherlands)

2. Education

Secondary school

Gymnasium in Utrecht, 1973 to 1979

Academic

Social and economic history, Utrecht University, 1979 to 1988

3. Political Affiliation

PvdA (Dutch Labour Party)

4. Career

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member of the regional board Rotterdam of FNV transport, the trade union for transport, 1987 to 1990
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board member of FNV transport, the trade union for transport, 1990 to 1997
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board member of the FNV, the federation of trade unions, 1997 to 2002
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coordinator collective bargaining agreements of the FNV, the federation of trade unions, 2002 to 2004
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vice-chair of the FNV, the federation of the trade unions, 2004 to 2005
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chair of the FNV, the federation of trade unions, 2005 to 2012
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associated researcher at the institute for open societies, Utrecht University, since 2012

5. Selected additional functions

Current

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chair of the board of Aletta E-Quality
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member of the board of Women Inc.
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member of the board of Stichting De Volkskrant (a large Dutch daily)
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member of the board of the Dutch investment fund for developing countries

Past

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member of various advisory board of public bodies and non-governmental organisations, the majority of which representing the FNV, the federation of trade unions

6. Selected public achievements

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Jongerius was ranked in the top of the list of 'most influential persons in the Netherlands' during her tenure as chair of federation of trade unions
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Resigned from the federation of trade unions after an internal dispute between the various unions on whether or not to accept a raise in the retirement age (an agreement Jongerius supported)