KLM ground crew strike suspended as negotiations resume

KLM and the trade unions representing its ground staff have temporarily suspended planned strikes, agreeing to resume negotiations under a yet-to-be-appointed mediator. The decision cancels a strike that had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Unions CNV and FNV said Monday that both sides appear willing to reach an agreement. “It seems like a good moment to choose a different route,” CNV negotiator Souleiman Amallah said. He added that the parties have set a deadline of November 1 to finalize a new collective labor agreement.

The unions submitted a “minimum list” of demands to KLM, including higher pay for ground personnel and improved work-life balance measures. KLM has indicated that it is open to discussing these demands, but only with a mediator present. Amallah expressed hope that a mediator could be appointed later this week.

Earlier Monday, a Haarlem court had approved the planned Wednesday strike under specific conditions. “The court sided with us, and that is an important victory,” FNV board member John van Dorland said. “But above all, we want a structural solution that provides certainty for staff and the future of KLM.”

In the meantime, Air France and Delta Airlines announced they would stop using KLM’s ground handling services at Schiphol Airport. KLM said the decision was influenced by recent strikes, though the unions disputed that claim.

KLM previously reached a labor agreement with other unions, agreeing to a 2.25 percent wage increase spread over two years. The airline said remaining ground unions will be included in further discussions. FNV campaign leader Jaap de Bie stressed that the strike threat is not gone: “Our ultimatum remains in effect, so if we don’t reach an agreement, we can always strike again.”

In recent weeks, KLM ground workers have staged three strikes, canceling hundreds of flights. The unions are pressing for higher pay that reflects inflation, noting that pilots and management have received raises.