Will Schiphol see some normalcy ? KLM ground staff unions agree to new contract with 4% pay hike & Less work pressure !

The Summer 2022 has been worst for the Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport , equally affected was KLM. There were widespread talks and outrages evolving from the sufferings of travellers for hours , while they move through the Airport.

The intensity of the inconvenience was such , law makers got involved in the process and the Airport chief was questioned on the solutions , and actions taken on behalf !

• PvdA MP Habtamu de Hoop : "Why is it not possible to pay Schiphol staff a decent wage, to give them a definite contract and to create good working conditions ? "
• VVD member Daniel Koerhuis : "A lot goes wrong at Schiphol , but we hear very little from the boardroom ,"  "How could this have gone so wrong and what is being done to solve it so that people can enjoy a carefree holiday this summer ? "

Invited by Labour Party - 'PvdA' ; and 'VVD' - Netherlands , Schiphol Airport (AMS) chief Dick Benschop also reached the "Tweede Kamer" to discuss the chaos and massive crowds at the airport. 

Now , after much of discussions and negotiations , KLM ground crew unions have said yes to the new contract with 4% pay hike , and reduced work pressure environment, which literally means — either more recruitment or reduction in capacity of handling at schiphol.

KLM ground staff will receive a total wage increase of four percent divided over two steps in an agreement the carrier reached with labor unions FNV and CNV. In addition to the pay increase, some workers will get the possibility to temporarily work abroad.

The new collective labor agreement will come into effect retroactively from March 1st , and will continue for an year . On October 1, approximately 12,000 employees will receive an additional 2 percent salary , with a minimum increase of 80 euros.

Another equivalent raise will follow on March 1st for these workers , including baggage handlers , technical services and guiding aircraft to and from the runways. The staff at KLM's head office is also covered by the collective labor agreement.

As we had mentioned in the begining, ground staff shortages or strike was behind the chaos , failure to manage the work load in the Airport was key , that staff at Schiphol Airport face on a daily basis.

It was obvious , post pandemic recovery was not easy ! The baggage handlers went on a wildcat strike in April as a result of this, and ground crew workers threatened another walkout in July if the situation did not improve.

This started with 150 strikers / baggage handlers , who were furious because KLM was planning to outsource part of the ground handling to 'Viggo'.

Last month , due to the shortage of security personnel , KLM was forced to suspend the sale of tickets for all it's flights leaving from Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS).

Amid Chaotic situation in their busiest airport , and keep a balance with local residents , Infrastructure minister Mark Harbers said in a statement that Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS) will be able to offer maximum of 440,000 take off and landing slots per year from November 2023.

Additional Terms ?

Minimum staffing level to be maintained ,  limiting the workload has been inked in the agreement , said FNV Director Birte Nelen . The agreement includes provisions to hire more people on a permanent basis.

What's more ?  — the starting salary will increase with the eventual elimination of the bottom two steps from the wage structure. From now on — freshers will no longer be classified in their own scales.

Additional benefit will be , ground staff no longer have to pay for parking at Schiphol , and they will receive an increase in their kilometer allowance. Good note is , the desk jobs can work from abroad for a period twice a year.

Noteworthy is , the ground staffs had already received a 5 percent salary earlier this year. At the time, this involved two deferred pay increments of 2.5 percent that had not yet been implemented due to the Pandemic dip.

Some of the KLM staffs , such as baggage handlers , also come under the Schiphol agreement , which means that they are being paid 5 euros extra per hour during the summer.

With this agreement taking effect and ground staffs are available to move KLM or Schiphol's Operations , we should be able to see , more such scenes as below !