Security staff at Amsterdam Schiphol plan short work stoppages over workload

Security staff at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport plan a series of short work stoppages on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Dutch trade union FNV said. Three 15-minute stoppages are scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, with five more planned for Wednesday.

FNV said the action is a response to excessive workload among security personnel. The union pointed to a high rate of sick leave among staff, which it said has added further strain on those still working.

The stoppages could disrupt the flow of passengers through the airport during the affected periods, according to the union. FNV said, however, that a minimum staffing arrangement has been agreed with airport operator Schiphol Group and the security contractors involved, meant to limit the impact on operations.

The union linked the current strain partly to a decision by Schiphol earlier this year to cut the number of contracted security firms at the airport from five to three. It did not specify how this reduction had affected staffing levels beyond citing the broader workload concerns.

No details were given on which security checkpoints or terminals would be affected by the stoppages, nor on expected passenger wait times. Schiphol and the security firms involved have not been quoted directly in relation to the planned action.