There is no rush yet on KLM's voluntary departure scheme, with which the airline wants to prevent layoffs. OThe summary proceedings will be heard on Friday 26 June that VNC, the largest union at KLM, has instituted proceedings to the management about the method of dismissal. The purpose of these summary proceedings is the requirement to comply with the lifo principle from the collective labor agreement. Where, according to the union, last-in-first-out should be leading in accordance with the collective labor agreement, KLM wants to 'reflect', whereby the pain is divided over different age groups. KLM refuses to comply with this article.

The purpose of the summary proceedings is that KLM adheres to the collective agreements made collectively. VNC has FNV Cabine, as a fellow collective labor agreement partner, wanted to support them in this matter to protect joint collective agreements, including Article 4.3, and thus reconcile our positions. FNV Cabine is not prepared to do this. They just like VNC set up a dismissal committee and also consider that application of the reflection principle is undesirable. But they do not want to reflect a lifo but the hitherto unknown variants. VNC is considering their position with regard to FNV Cabin, there are several options for involving them in court.

allowances

The maximum reimbursement is one and a half years' salary. As a result, the KLM scheme is more favorable than the regular severance pay for employees with an employment contract of more than ten years. The average age of the cabin crew is 44 at the end of December. More than two-thirds of KLM staff have worked for more than ten years, according to internal statistics, which have been consulted by De Telegraaf. 

According to chairman Rob Swankhuizen of the Dutch union of aviation technicians, there are so far about 800 registrations out of 30.000 employees. The entire group expects a contraction due to the corona crisis of 20%, which would mean 5400 jobs on the staff of KLM. Sources in Paris assume a higher number, between 6000 and 7000 jobs. KLM will not comment on the number of registrations so far on Sunday.

infusion

KLM has been largely grounded for months as a result of the corona pandemic and is due to state infusion. Air traffic is expected to return to pre-crisis levels in a few years. The KLM management still holds the cards to the chest when it comes to restructuring. CEO Pieter Elbers reported this week in an internal personnel letter that the number of flights in the summer is 60 to 70% lower than last year.

Also read: KLM opens voluntary staff departure scheme