Air France KLM cargo handlers to join Frankfurt strike

Air France/KLM cargo ground handling staff at Frankfurt Airport are set to stage a one-day “warning” strike tomorrow (Friday, November 25th) over pay.

German trade union ver.di said that the strike will begin at 06.00 and will end at 22.00, affecting around 150 ground employees across Germany, mainly in the carrier’s cargo division.

The strike will not affect passenger traffic.

In addition to Frankfurt, ver.di said in a statement on its website that locations in Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover, Düsseldorf and Munich are also affected by the planned walk-out.

In its German-language press release ver.di claimed that the Franco-Dutch carrier had made “a completely unacceptable offer” on November 7, which included two 2.5% salary increases in 2023, with a possible “inflation compensation premium” payment.

Air France KLM said that it regretted the action taken by Ver.di by calling for a strike as it is still in talks and negotiations.

“It goes without saying that we are doing everything we can to minimize the consequences of this strike for our cargo customers,” the airline group added.

“We have contacted our customers and informed them that: Bookings can still be made through our myCargo digital platform, third-party portals and by email; our ground handling agents Swissport and dnata will continue to accept export cargo and deliver import cargo and our European contact centre will remain open for any questions.”

Ver.di said that its new tariff proposal is based on public sector pay level demands in Germany.

The union is calling for 10.5% pay increase of at least €500 per month over 18 months, backdated from July this year.

Ver.di has also called for the “urgent revision of the remuneration structure”.

The union claimed that there have been just 21 days of new contract negotiations with the airline since the previous pay settlement, agreed in 2013, ran out in December 2015.

Earlier this year, the airport, which is the busiest cargo hub in Europe, had asked cargo airlines to reduce flying in order to tackle a staff shortage.