A Dutch court has ruled that KLM ground staff are not permitted to conduct a planned 24-hour strike on June 28, 2025.
Labour unions FNV and CNV had intended to strike in order to reinforce demands for more protection of employee purchasing power and to eliminate a planned wage freeze.
Ground staff at the airline's Amsterdam hub planning to strike include check-in agents, passenger assistance team members, tow truck drivers, and baggage handlers, not limited to just ramp crew.
In response, KLM argued that the labour action is “disproportionate”.
“Strikes don’t help - they affect colleagues who want to work, passengers who are not part of this conflict, and they harm our company,” said Miriam Kartman, chief people officer at KLM. “Especially in the difficult financial position KLM is in right now. I therefore urge FNV and CNV to return to the table, as the other unions have done, and continue the dialogue.”
The judge sided with the Schiphol-based airline, agreeing with KLM that a 24-hour strike is disproportionate and therefore does not allow it.
This means that the strike at KLM's ground department cannot take place, with KLM expressing its desire to quickly resume discussions with the unions to find “good” solutions.
The airline operates around 300 daily departures from Amsterdam.