According to the FNV trade union, it was a ‘wild’ strike, which was not organized by the union, in protest against high work pressure and low wages. KLM’s 150 handlers made it possible for people to leave their planes, but they did not unload the aircraft of KLM and partners, such as Delta and Air France. Suitcases and bags therefore remained in the hold.
This has resulted in long lines for several check-in counters, one of which has reached a length of hundreds of meters and even extends outside the airport building. There is also a long line at the counter for international train travel, as people whose flights have been canceled are trying to travel to France or Germany by train.
According to Joost van Doesburg, Schiphol campaign manager at FNV, the work has been resumed partly for safety reasons. The striking employees also spoke with René de Groot, KLM’s operational director. It is not known whether any commitments have been made there.
At 10 a.m., an airport spokesman said the situation was “manageable.” Schiphol has now concluded that it is not responsible for safety if it becomes even busier and the airport is calling on all travelers to stay away. Rijkswaterstaat has decided ‘due to the strike at Schiphol and the accompanying safety reasons’ to close the exits of the A4 at Schiphol.
The call to stay away applies in any case to people who would fly before 3 p.m. on Saturday. They are advised to contact their airline.
Precisely this Saturday, the airport was already very busy due to the start of the May holiday. As a result, longer waiting times were expected at the airport.
Outsourcing to a subcontractor leads to unrest
Trade union FNV warned at the beginning of April for a chaotic month due to staff shortages. This would put Schiphol employees under enormous pressure; last year, pilots even helped unload luggage, according to the union.
According to Joost van Doesburg, Schiphol FNV campaign manager, KLM is not succeeding in attracting enough new platform personnel because it does not offer permanent contracts and offers an unattractive salary. KLM’s announcement this week to outsource part of the work to Viggo, an independent handling company, was completely wrong, says Van Doesburg. According to him, the fact that KLM is looking for solutions from external companies is interpreted by the staff as a signal that KLM does not want to improve the employment conditions for its own employees.
Employees in conversation with operational director
‘Since Thursday evening I have felt and tasted a lot of anger. People were white-hot,” he says. “Then strange things happen, as you see today.” According to him, FNV has offered to mediate.
KLM acknowledges in a declaration that the workload is high and says that it is doing everything it can to solve the shortages. ‘We are taking all possible measures to do this. Temporary hiring of employees of another handling agent at Schiphol is one of the measures.’
A few weeks ago, FNV agreed on a collective labor agreement with most independent handling companies, including Viggo. This includes a starting wage of 14 euros per hour. FNV is trying to initiate collective labor agreement negotiations with KLM, but so far without success, says Van Doesburg.