Strike action at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport continues to be disruptive. KLM, the Dutch arm of airline group Air France-KLM, has already begun cancelling flights in anticipation of the four-hour ground staff strike set to take place on September 17.
Schiphol Strike Disruptions Worsen
KLM has already encouraged those travelling on September 17 to stay alert and monitor their flight status using the KLM App, My Trip. Additionally, if passengers have their flights cancelled or miss connecting flights during this strike, they will be automatically re-booked on the first available alternative flight.
The strikes began last week, September 10, after the ground crew announced a two-hour strike. The cancellations that followed affected 27,000 passengers across a number of airports in Europe, Africa and North America. As this upcoming strike is due to take four hours, the airline, its passengers and those travelling to and from Schiphol Airport must prepare for cancellations, delays and further disruptions to their journeys.
KLM aircraft taxiing © Jacqueline Macou
Schiphol Workers Grow Frustrated
Union representatives say the strikes have stemmed from rising frustrations over pay and working conditions, and the inequalities need to be rectified.
Jaap de Bie of the FNV Aviation Union said:
“Without [the ground crew], there are no flights, yet KLM seems to be deaf to their justfied demands. It is now time to send a clear message.”
The last time KLM raised ground staff wages was in 2022, agreeing to a 2% increase to help offset inflation and labour shortages following the pandemic.
Strike action continues, and ground staff are growing more and more frustrated. Will you be affected by these strikes? Let us know in the comments.
