Defense labor actions to cause delays at Eindhoven, Rotterdam airports

The joint unions of Defense personnel are planning labor actions twice this week. Friday's action may result in longer than usual queues at the airports in Eindhoven and Rotterdam, ANP reports.

On Friday the Koninklijke Marechaussee will perform extra strict and thorough passport checks at these airports. This may cause longer queues and extra inconvenience for passengers. The Koninklijke Marechaussee is a policing force that works as part of the Dutch military and is responsible for border security, including at airports and harbors.

On Thursday the unions have a "bird free" action planned - traffic violations will not be fined. Instead the Marechaussee will and out warnings.

These two actions form part of the unions' long ongoing conflict with Defense on a new collective bargaining agreement for the Koninklijke Marechaussee. The talks have been stranded since April, when the Ministry's final offer was rejected by a massive 90 percent of the union members.

Defense Minster Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said last month that she hopes to resolve this conflict before a new cabinet takes over. When exactly that will be is unclear. The government formation talks between the VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie are currently paused for summer break. At the start of the holiday, no end was in sight yet.