THE HAGUE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Dutch airline KLM has asked a court to block an eight-hour strike by ground staff planned for next week, citing safety and operational risks, the company said on Thursday.
Trade unions FNV and CNV are calling for a walkout next Wednesday to press for higher wages for staff handling check-in, baggage and aircraft guidance.
KLM told public broadcaster NOS that it had initiated the legal proceedings "because of the serious consequences for safety at Schiphol, our operations, passengers and other (partner) airlines."
This will be the third time KLM has sought to stop a strike this year. In June, a court banned a planned 24-hour strike, citing significant risks to safety and public order, partly because it was scheduled near a NATO summit in The Hague.
Another court ruling in July prohibited an eight-hour strike that coincided with the start of the busy summer travel period, warning it would leave little room to rebook passengers and would cause "much grief for affected travellers."
