Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has been paralyzed due to an unannounced strike by employees of the Dutch airline KLM. The airport authorities called on passengers not to come to the port. Police blocked the motorway exits leading to the airport. The strike ended around noon.
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One of the largest airports in Europe was in chaos on Saturday as KLM’s baggage handlers unexpectedly announced at 6 a.m. strike. Workers demand higher wages and better working conditions.
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Strike at Schiphol airport
Dozens of flights were canceled and the departure lounge was in chaos, local media reported. The striking workers complained about poor working conditions and fatigue. For weeks, the trade union FNV has been alerting that nearly 1,000 workers are missing at Schiphol.
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“The terminal is currently overcrowded. Schiphol urges travelers not to come to the airport again,” the airport authorities said in a statement released in the morning. “We are very sorry to have to do this, but it is necessary to guarantee safety,” an airport spokesman told Reuters. For this reason, the police closed the access roads to the airport.
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Schiphol airportEPA/Ramon van Flymen
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Trade union FNV reported that the strike ended around noon. KLM airline issued a statement informing about the resumption of flights. The carrier made a reservation, however, that passengers must still take into account delays and even flight cancellations.
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Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is the third largest airport in Europe in terms of air traffic, after Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow.
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photo-source">Main photo source: EPA/Ramon van Flymen
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