The FNV trade union is planning two short work stoppages at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on Thursday between 8.00 and 11.00. The strike actions involve check-in and baggage handling activities only, Schiphol said on its website.

Work was to stop between 8.00 and 8.45 at the check-in counters operated by Aviapartner and similar action was planned at the baggage handling facilities of Swissport Handling between 10.00 and 11.00.

Schiphol said it had taken many extra measures to reduce any delays to passengers or aircraft.

Negotiations between baggage handling companies Swissport, Aviapartner and Menzies Aviation and the FNV trade union have broken down and there is now a real threat of more strike action, the Financieele Dagblad said on Thursday.

Employees of the three companies downed tools on Friday in protest about the work load. But the differences between the companies and the union have widened since then. Speaking for all three baggage handlers, Swissport CEO Menno Biersma said further strikes were expected.

They are now considering taking the ‘Jumbo method’ to resolve the conflict, the FD said, a reference to the supermarket chain’s unique solution to its own labour problem. Jumbo bypassed the union and dealt directly with the company’s works council.

‘The Jumbo route is very interesting. We haven’t done anything yet, but we are looking at other possibilities… also a union other than the FNV,’ Biersma told the paper.

The FNV was unimpressed by the Jumbo threat. ‘Staff of airport companies are much more involved with the union than Jumbo employees are. At some airport companies 60% of the workers are union members. It’s best not to argue with us,’ said FNV spokesman Leen van der List.

Wages, work load and rosters are at issue at the airport and talks have been ongoing for some 18 months.