Schiphol workers need more protection from heat, more time for security checks: Union

There have been "many" complaints of unsafe working conditions at Schiphol Airport during the most extreme portion of the current heat wave, according to labor union FNV. Additionally, a majority of airport security staffers also issued concerns last week about the amount of time they are allotted to carry out security screenings, the union said.

During the heat wave, the FNV received complaints not only about the excessive workload, but also health complaints, malfunctioning air conditioners, and dangerous situations. The complaints came from platform crews, security guards, passenger service employees, cabin crew, and people responsible for assisting passengers mobility impairments.

"Employees report having to work for hours at temperatures around 35 degrees, often without proper cooling or sufficient opportunities to rest. They get headaches, become dizzy, and also witness colleagues and travelers becoming unwell," the FNV said on Monday.

The union is insisting that Schiphol management draw up a "binding heat protocol" together with all employers and other relevant unions. This should include agreements on work stoppages, extra breaks, adjusted working hours, and clear rules for halting work if safety is compromised.

The demand comes about a week after the union said more than half of security workers at Schiphol say they do not have enough time to properly carry out safety procedures. The FNV based its findings on an analysis of nearly 200 complaints from airport security staff.

The union opened a reporting point last month for thousands of security guards who switched employers following a new tender for airport security services.

FNV said 44% of workers report problems with aggressive passengers. “Also, security officers report that new employees are insufficiently trained, that there is too little supervision on the work floor and that the workload is high,” the union said, calling the signals “very worrying.”

“Airline security is about safety. If security officers indicate that they have insufficient time to carefully carry out procedures, then nobody may ignore that. Safety must never be made subordinate to cost savings,” FNV said.

The union is urging Schiphol and security companies to immediately address issues related to workload, scheduling and safety, and to structurally involve employees in decisions affecting their work. Schiphol has recently shifted from five to three security companies, with new firms created in which the airport also holds a stake. FNV last month described “chaos” in the workplace, citing widespread uncertainty among security staff.

Schiphol said it takes the concerns “very seriously.” “The safety of passengers and employees at Schiphol always comes first,” a spokesperson said. “We have received the FNV report, are carefully reviewing it, and are addressing it in our discussions with the security companies,” the spokesperson said.

“The new security organization has been chosen to have more control over execution, the quality of work, supervision and a stable implementation of security,” Schiphol said. FNV, however, argues that security quality at the airport is declining.