(Amsterdam) The biggest Dutch union on Tuesday threatened a “widespread” action next week at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which over the past two months has regularly seen long queues and cancellation of flights.
Posted at 10:53 a.m.
“Something has to change, we can’t go on like this,” said Joost van Doesburg, spokesperson for the FNV union, which represents the majority of unionized staff at Schiphol, expressing concern that “travellers and workers are literally falling from fatigue.
“If we don’t have an agreement, we will start with industrial action on 1er June, including work stoppages,” he added, as the FNV is due to meet airport officials again on Wednesday.
Schiphol and Dutch national airline KLM have been grappling with staff shortages as passenger numbers have steadily increased since most health restrictions were dropped in March.
After passengers on Sunday and Monday again faced long queues at one of Europe’s busiest airports, Schiphol CEO Dick Benschop brought forward his return from the Davos Economic Forum ( Switzerland) to try to solve the problem.
Dutch border police even had to intervene on Sunday when travelers worried about missing their flights lashed out at poaching security staff.
“There are people again at Schiphol today, like during the May holidays,” airport spokesman Willemeike Koster said on Tuesday.
Airlines, including KLM, have also warned of delays and cancellations and warned of the risk of longer wait times.
“We are working hard on a plan for the summer,” said M.me Koster with AFP.
The staff shortage is unlikely to be ironed out by the summer holidays, Dutch media reported.
At least 20 flights were canceled Tuesday, according to the airport website.
The flight cancellations have nothing to do with the airport but were decided “by the airlines themselves”, Ms.me Koster.