Trade unions against government's plans to cut night flights at Schiphol
Several trade unions are outraged by outgoing Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers’ plan to cut night flights at Schiphol Airport and ban loud planes at night. They call the plans and his way of implementing them undemocratic and ill-considered, the Telegraaf reports.
Renier Castelein of De Unie told the newspaper that there is no democratic mandate for the latest proposals. “The Netherlands is becoming an unpredictable and unreliable destination. Copenhagen and Lisbon are going to grow as a result. Retaliatory measures from China, Qatar, and the U.S. will damage the communications network. This affects the business climate, the labor market, the flower auction, the hotel and conference sector, and the industry that wants reliable transport for machines and parts.”
The Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) thinks the Minister did not properly study the long-term consequences of this plan. “We endorse the importance of reducing noise for locals, but at the same time, the government continues to impose instead of consult. While it has already been shown in recent years that this leads to a legal quagmire. Only together can we ensure that noise gains are achieved,” said spokesman Camiel Verhagen.
The Dutch Union of Aviation Technicians is surprised that a Minister from the VVD - a party that prides itself on its commitment to entrepreneurs - is pushing through these plans. According to leader Piet Visser, the money for sustainability must first be earned. “We do not understand why the VVD lets this Minister run around like an elephant in the china shop. We hope the VVD will come to its senses again and realize that a stable policy is necessary for an enterprising Netherlands.”
The Dutch Cabin Crew Union thinks the Minister should consider the sector’s own plans, which, according to the union, achieve noise reduction by slowing planes down a bit. According to leader Chris van Elswijk, knowledge institutes like TNO and TU Delft also support the plan.
