Unions call off ground staff strike at Schiphol to restart talks

Unions have called off a threatened strike by KLM ground staff at Schiphol airport on October 1 after agreeing to go back to the negotiating table.

The FNV and CNV unions had called an eight-hour stoppage on Wednesday in the latest in an escalating dispute over pay and conditions.

KLM, the national flag carrier, went to court last week seeking an injunction to ban the strike on safety grounds and because of the knock-on disruption to other airlines. A judge was due to give a ruling on Monday.

The unions said they had suspended the industrial action because they “had confidence” that KLM would “come up with proper solutions” to end the impasse.

FNV negotiator John van Dorland said: “Above all we want a permanent resolution that offers security for the staff and for the future of KLM.”

He denied that the unions felt under pressure to agree a deal after Air France, KLM’s partner airline, said it was looking for another company to deal with check-ins and baggage handling. KLM claimed high wage demands and frequent strikes had made its baggage handling service uncompetitive.

FNV and CNV are demanding a 7% pay rise to compensate for high inflation and an early retirement scheme for staff who perform hard physical work.

Three smaller unions have already accepted a wage increase of 2.25% over two years.