Contract cleaners at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport went on 24-hour strike on Thursday in support of better working conditions.

The FNV trade union federation hopes the strike will lead the airport authorities to pressure cleaning firms to improve pay and conditions for the cleaners.

The union is particularly angry at the way cleaners’ pay is docked for the first two days they are off sick. In addition, a large number of the country’s 150,000 contract cleaners live in poverty, the union says. Other one-day strikes and ‘surprise action’ is being planned.

Schiphol is also dealing with the effects of a strike by freight handlers at Aviapartner Cargo (APC). They, too, are striking for better pay and conditions.