Collective labor agreement negotiations

In the meantime, we have continued to talk to the ‘facilitators’ engaged by KLM. The emphasis was not so much on the content of the collective labor agreement negotiations themselves, but more on the balance between the domains to be monitored by KLM. After all, it cannot have escaped anyone’s attention that KLM’s position within the domains often differs. And although KLM says it always monitors the unity within the company, we unfortunately have to conclude that this is becoming less and less successful.

Although this observation cannot be news to KLM (we have already indicated this several times), we will continue to discuss this with KLM next Friday.

In the meantime, we have already spoken with KLM for 11 days (!) about the new collective labor agreement. With hardly any result. In that respect, our patience is running out a bit. The current collective labor agreement expires at the end of this month and we do not feel like negotiating for months longer. Also in the knowledge that KLM never agrees on wage increases with retroactive effect….

Reduction of jobs

It took about a week and a half before we received a response from KLM to our request to give substance to Article 4.3 of the collective labor agreement. This article states that in the event of redundancy of a collective nature, the employees’ organisations are considered in the first instance as the issuing body. As far as we are concerned, there is ‘not a word of Spanish’ in it.

Unfortunately, we have had to conclude that KLM seems to give its own explanation to this. They first want to further develop the plans and inform the unions when partial requests for advice have been drawn up. In doing so, KLM expects to give substance to this collective labor agreement article.

We have informed KLM that we completely disagree with this explanation. Under the collective labor agreement, trade unions are the first advisory body. We must therefore be informed first and not last, so that we can actually exert influence. Because we have not been able to agree on this, we have informed KLM that we are considering further steps based on a legal test.

No forced redundancies

In addition, we have emphasized once again that we will not accept compulsory redundancies and that we are prepared to make agreements about voluntary departure and the like. In response to this, KLM has announced that it wants to prevent forced redundancies as much as possible, but that they still do not want to give any guarantees and do not want to make final agreements about this. We do not think that is enough. Therefore, as far as we are concerned, the last word has not yet been spoken on this.

Works councils

Together with all other ground unions, we have now requested KLM’s works council, in the light of Article 4.3 of the collective labor agreement, to postpone the further processing of requests for advice related to Back on Track until further notice. While KLM seems to give its own interpretation to the collective labor agreement, we assume for the time being that the works council makes its own assessment and agrees with us.

We think it is a pity that the consultation with KLM is so difficult. Especially at a time with so many challenges for KLM, it is important that there is a good dialogue. A dialogue in which KLM is much more understanding of the position and sentiment of the ground staff. We remain committed to this!

Works Council/GC elections

Some time ago, we invited our members to stand as candidates for the upcoming elections for the new works council and group committees via De Unie. We think good employee participation is important. The good news is that 14 Union members have stood for election to the works council and/or the group committees. We are of course very happy with that. In a few weeks they will introduce themselves further and of course we support their candidacy.

Contact

As always, we will keep you informed of further developments. If you have any questions or comments as a result of our reporting, you can email Huug Brinkers.