Air France and Delta have cancelled their ground handling agreements with KLM after the Dutch airline contended with weeks of strike action from its ground handling staff.
KLM said on Monday (September 29) that it was informed by its sister airline that it and Delta would be seeking an alternative ground handling partner at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airlines will invite proposals from other service providers before a final selection.
“This decision has immediate operational implications for KLM, particularly for the ground services department,” said KLM. “The financial and employment-related consequences of this decision are currently being assessed.”
KLM's ground handlers — represented by unions FNV and CNV — carried out strike action every Wednesday over the past three weeks. Strikes were initiated on September 10 after the unions declined to enter discussions with KLM regarding the agreement.
The airline had reached agreements with three other unions: NVLT, VKP, and De Unie. The agreement had offered employees a 2.25% wage increase, a one-time €750 payment, and an improved profit-sharing scheme, amongst other things.
However, KLM said yesterday strike action set for this coming Wednesday (October 1) had been called off.
“KLM and the unions have mutually agreed to press the ‘pause button’ in an effort to break the current deadlock,” said KLM in a statement.
An independent mediator will be appointed and the parties will have until November 1 to “reach progress”. The three other unions will be involved in the next phase of discussions.