KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has introduced a new wage proposal aimed at preventing a strike by its ground staff at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airline has offered a one-time bonus of €1,000 (about $1,178) to all employees in 2025. In addition to the bonus, there will be a structural wage increase of up to 2.5% by July 1, 2026, depending on KLM’s financial performance in 2025. This proposal applies to all staff covered under the current 22-month collective labor agreement.
The offer comes in response to growing tensions with ground crew staff, including baggage handlers, counter personnel, and security agents, who had planned an 8-hour strike on July 9. This date coincides with the beginning of the school holidays in the Netherlands, making it a particularly sensitive time for airline operations. A previous 24-hour strike attempt in late June was halted by a court order due to national security concerns tied to a NATO summit. However, union leaders now say a similar legal ban is unlikely to be imposed this time.
KLM has invited all unions to resume negotiations on July 10 to discuss the proposed deal in detail and work toward a resolution before the strike date. The airline had earlier hinted at the possibility of seeking legal action again, but this time unions believe that the circumstances do not justify court intervention.
If the deal is accepted, it would help KLM avoid major disruptions to travel for over 160,000 passengers during one of the busiest periods of the year. The proposal is also seen as an effort to maintain operational stability and employee morale at a critical time. However, some issues still remain, such as concerns about purchasing power, retirement provisions, and long-term wage fairness. Unions are expected to assess whether the offer goes far enough in addressing these underlying issues when talks resume.
The outcome of the July 10 negotiations will likely determine whether the planned strike proceeds or is called off. For now, KLM’s gesture is being seen as a significant step toward easing tensions and finding common ground with its employees.
