Unions stop the ground service strike at Schiphol airport

The KLM ground service planned for Wednesday was suspended after FNV and CNV and the carrier agreed to resume conversations with the mediator's participation. The parties want to reach a new collective agreement by November 1.

The FNV and CNV trade unions and KLM lines announced on Monday the suspension of the ground service planned for Wednesday at Schiphol airport. Both sides agreed to return to the negotiating table, and the conversations are to take place in the presence of a mediator, whose name will be announced soon.

“This is a good time to take a different path,” said CNV negotiator Souleiman Amallah, emphasizing that the parties set a date for November 1 to develop a new collective labor agreement. Unions demand, among others wage increases and improving the balance between professional and private life.

Earlier on Monday, the court in Haarlem allowed the Wednesday strike, recognizing the reasons for the relationship. “This is an important victory, but above all we care about a permanent solution,” said John Van Dorland from FNV.

The decision to suspend the protest was made when Air France and Delta Airlines announced that they were giving up the use of KLM ground services in Schiphol. According to the carrier, this was related to recent strike actions, although the relationships deny this.

In recent weeks, KLM ground service has conducted three strikes, causing hundreds of flights to be canceled. Trade unionists emphasize that their payroll demands reflect inflation, indicating that pilots and management have already received increases.

Although the strike has been temporarily suspended, trade unionists warn that in the event of a fiasco of negotiations, protests may be resumed.

From Amsterdam Patryk Kulpok (PAP)

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