Four major cargo handling firms at Schiphol Airport have reached a “milestone” joint agreement with union FNV over pay rises.
The agreement will provide pay rises of an average of 10% over the coming two years for employees at Menzies World Cargo, Swissport, dnata and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS).
Employees will benefit by at least 6% in the first year. A further 2% wage increase has been agreed in 2026. Employees will also receive a 2.5% end-of-year bonus in 2026.
The fact that the collective labour agreement will apply to the entire sector is a milestone, the FNV said.
John van Dorland, director of FNV Aviation, said: “We have thus laid a very solid foundation for the cargo sector.
“It offers employees in our sector more security and we can continue to build on a fair and healthy future for both employees and companies.
“Moreover, there is now no more competition on employment conditions, but on the quality of work. It is no longer about which airfreight company is the cheapest, it is now about who is the best.”
Employees will now vote on the agreement.
“As a trade union, we are very satisfied with the result,” added van Dorland. “Ultimately, the members will of course decide.
“We will explain the negotiation agreement in members’ meetings in the coming period, so that they can vote on this result well-informed.”