Schiphol, security companies and trade unions CNV and FNV have agreed improvements to security staff working conditions, including breaks, rotas and workload, ending recent work stoppages.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), security companies I-SEC, Securitas and Trigion, and trade unions CNV and FNV have reached an agreement on improvements to working conditions for security staff, meaning there will be no further work stoppages.
On 25 and 26 August, security employees at Schiphol carried out 15-minute work stoppages on several occasions, meaning travellers sometimes had to wait longer at security. Through the stoppages, security staff were calling for better working conditions at the airport. The agreements reached cover breaks, rota arrangements and the way security employees can carry out their work effectively.
Over the past few weeks, Schiphol, the three security companies and the two trade unions held discussions regarding the quality of work at the airport, leading to agreements on several issues intended to contribute to a safe, healthy and pleasant working environment for security staff. These agreements will be further developed and implemented in the coming period.
Patricia Vitalis, COO at Royal Schiphol Group, said: “Everyone has worked incredibly hard on this agreement. We’ve reached a deal, and that’s good news for security staff, for Schiphol and for the travellers who rely on us every day… these agreements mean we’re improving the day-to-day work of security employees and, together, continuing to build a working environment in which people can do their jobs safely, healthily and enjoyably. The security staff deserve that.”
From demands to a deal
The discussions led to specific agreements on issues trade unions had recently been drawing attention to. To create greater peace of mind and predictability for security staff, agreements have been reached on adequate break times, sufficient recovery time between shifts, a more balanced deployment of part-time staff and greater certainty regarding leave requests. Further agreements aim to reduce workload, provide better support for female security staff on duty and improve working conditions more broadly.
Schiphol said security staff play a vital role in ensuring a safe and pleasant journey for millions of travellers, and that trade unions have been closely involved in the transition to the airport’s new security organisation from the outset.
The new security organisation began operating during a busy holiday period, a transition Schiphol said placed significant demands on employees, trade unions and security companies alike, underlining why a long-term partnership was chosen.
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