Schiphol plans to reorganize security could mean pricier tickets, longer lines
Schiphol is planning to organize the hiring of security companies completely differently. Insiders expect this will lead to longer lines and more expensive plane tickets for travelers. Employees are also furious, sources told the Telegraaf.
The airport wants to reduce the number of security companies from five to three and wants to take a stake in the remaining companies. According to the Telegraaf’s sources, less competition and a financial interest will result in more expensive tickets. Because if the hiring of security guards becomes more expensive, airlines will have to pay more and they will pass that on to customers.
Schiphol does not deny this, but a spokesperson said that higher ticket prices were by no means inevitable. “In the tender, quality of service and quality of work are important elements. That includes a suitable price-quality ratio,” the spokesperson said.
At the airport itself, security employees are worried. “Since the announcement on Monday, we have been getting angry security guards on the phone,” said CNV director Erik Maas. Schiphol promised that no one would lose their jobs, but guards are worried about their schedules, salaries, and employment conditions changing if they have to switch employers.
“Some people will soon no longer be able to combine their job with their private life. I already have people on the phone who are going to look for another job because they will soon have to work at night instead of during the day, for example,” Maas said. “The fact that security guards indicate that they will leave immediately leads to pressure on the organization and possibly longer lines for travelers.”
Another source confirmed the unrest. “People have unwritten work agreements with their company, certain unique positions that do not exist at other companies, or certain roster agreements. The question is what will happen to that? You can see that with the new CEO Pieter van Oord, a different wind is blowing,” the source said. They said Van Oord has a harsher policy.
