Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Business
Aart Slagt
Air France
Camiel Eurlings
CNV
collective bargaining agreement
KLM
Labour
negotiations
Transavia
unions
Friday, 10 April 2015 - 13:27
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

KLM reaches agreement with unions

After months of negotiations, Dutch airline KLM finalized a deal with ground crew labour unions on a new collective bargaining agreement overnight. Leadership at the five trade unions will give their recommendations about the new contract before the full membership votes on its approval later this month, KLM said in a statement. The new contract would have a retroactive start date, and last for 18 months, ending after June 30, 2016. The airline is optimistic the deal will help achieve its reorganization goals, to streamline costs, increase worker productivity and improve efficiency. By 2020 there will be no mandatory redundancy leave for the staff on the ground, union CNV told broadcaster NOS. Buyout packages will be offered for those who wish to leave sooner. As a compromise, the union chose dropped demands for a structural wage increase and extra days off for some aging workers. “This confirms that the unions are prepared to share responsibility and hereby underscore the need to cut costs," said KLM human resources executive Aart Slagt. "These cost-cutting measures are essential in enabling us to keep investing in our combined future in these challenging times. I truly appreciate and respect the flexibility that everyone has shown in these demanding collective labour contract negotiations,” he added. CNV wants the pilots union and cabin crews to come to terms with the airline quickly, a representative told NOS. KLM's Perform 2020 reorganiztion plan calls for the airline to better handle point-to-point operations and improve its passenger hub strategy, and to expand the use of its low-cost carrier Transavia. The expansion of that airline was a key sticking point in the resolution of an Air France pilot strike that crippled the French carrier last year. The strike led to the resignation of KLM's CEO at the time, Camiel Eurlings. Air France-KLM is the parent company of all three airlines.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • One person found dead after major fire in business premises in Schellinkhout
  • Ajax pick up their first win since October in Heitinga’s debut
  • Philips restructuring: Massive layoffs and recall of sleep apnea devices
  • Police officer injured after being dragged more than 300 meters by car
  • Extinction Rebellion protest: 768 arrests made and 725 activists released
  • League leaders Feyenoord drop points away to FC Twente

Top stories

  • Dutch royal family under fire for “caricature insensitivity”
  • Prime Minister Mark Rutte will speak at Holocaust commemoration
  • A12 open again after Extinction Rebellion protest, more than 500 people arrested
  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested
  • Rutte lashes out at left wing parties in election campaign interview
  • Netherlands and the US agree on export restriction of ASML chip machines

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content