KLM cabin crew threaten to strike on Friday

Some KLM cabin crew members are threatening to strike for an hour on Friday, union VNC announced. The union wants to push the Dutch airline to restart negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement for the cabin crew. Other involved union FNV Cabin is surprised by the announcement, a spokesperson said to newspaper AD.

VNC has had enough of KLM's ongoing "feints" on cabin crew deployment on some long flights, the union said. Last year KLM announced that it will deploy one steward or stewardess less on some intercontinental flights in order to save costs. The unions immediately protested against this measure, organizing a number of labor actions.

KLM and the unions eventually agreed that the measure will be reversed, provided that the unions cooperate on alternatives to increase productivity. KLM recently made a final offer on this front. VNC rejected it. FNV Cabin is still informing its members about the offer. FNV members can give their opinion about the offer between September 13th and 17th. The union does not consider it appropriate to call for labor actions before the members had their say.

According to FNV, it is giving neutral advice about the offer. On the positive side, the offer includes a structural salary increase for the first time in over five years and an improved profit sharing arrangement, according to FNV. On the negative side, the union still disagrees with future cabin crew deployment on intercontinental flights.

A KLM spokesperson confirmed to AD that the company received VNC's letter and is still considering a response.