KLM ground staff will receive 4 percent more wages in two steps, trade unions FNV and CNV agreed with the airline on Thursday. The salary increase also has a lower limit of twice 80 euros. In addition, agreements have also been made about reducing the workload.
The new collective labor agreement will take effect retroactively on 1 March and will run for one year. On 1 October, the approximately 12,000 employees will receive an additional 2% salary with a minimum of 80 euros. Another step will follow on 1 March for these forces, which include handling baggage, working for the technical service and guiding aircraft to and from the runways. The staff at KLM’s head office is also covered by the collective labor agreement.
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the workload of the staff at Schiphol. In April, for example, the baggage handlers went on strike unannounced. Agreements have also been made to limit this workload, says FNV director Birte Nelen. For example, more people are hired on a permanent basis and agreements are made about a minimum occupation.
In addition, the bottom two steps will eventually disappear from the wage structure, so that the starting salary will increase. From now on, young people will no longer be classified in their own scales.
In addition, ground staff no longer have to pay for parking at Schiphol and the kilometer allowance will increase. Furthermore, the office staff can work from abroad for a period twice a year. This is a total of eight weeks.
The airline itself thinks that with the new collective labor agreement “the organization can return to peace”. The agreements must also offer perspective for current and future employees.