Report: Union has good chance in appeal against ban of KLM strikes at Schiphol

Union FNV has a good chance of winning the appeal against a court ruling that banned any strikes by KLM ground crew at Schiphol until September 4th, Barend Barentsen, professor of Labor Law at the University of Leiden, said to BNR.

The court ruling in early August was primarily based on the busy summer season at the airport and an increased security risk a strike would cause. But according to Barentsen, it is never made clear exactly what risk is entailed. A KLM strike would be very annoying to passengers, but the court needs to have concrete evidence to undermine a fundamental right like striking, he said.

"On the one hand the FNV actions are of limited scale and on the other hand it goes easily with the terrorism specter. There is a threat of terrorism, but there is no evidence that the authorities can not tolerate any deviation from the established pattern", Barentsen said to the broadcaster.

According to the Leiden professor, this is still the case even if the KLM employees' strike affect thousands of passengers. "Of course it is harmful and there will be lines, but they will not stand outside. And you can consult the AIVD and Marechaussee on safety and ask if a room full of people can be handled."