Eindhoven Airport Luggage Handlers Face “Anxiety Culture”

Union alleges unsafe conditions, excessive speed at Skytanking

The FNV trade union has raised serious concerns about an alleged “anxiety culture” among luggage handlers at Skytanking, operating at Eindhoven Airport. A recent survey suggests that relentless pressure to maintain speed is compromising safety and causing significant employee burnout.

Survey Exposes Pressures

According to the FNV, a survey of **Skytanking** employees reveals the extent of the problem. Of the approximately one hundred employees, 67 participated in the survey, highlighting a worrying trend. Union director **Stijn Jansen** told Omroep Brabant that the company “squeezes employees like a lemon,” resulting in high absenteeism and increased workload for the remaining staff.

Beyond the heavy workloads, workers report unpredictable schedules and a lack of support when raising concerns. If an employee indicates problems, the employee is often rebuked by managers, according to the union, or does not feel heard.

Past Problems and Lingering Concerns

Since April of last year, **Skytanking** has managed passenger processes for Ryanair flights at Eindhoven Airport, including baggage handling and passenger supervision. Due to staff shortages, the Labor Inspectorate investigated the company last August after delayed luggage handling caused flight disruptions. Hundreds of passengers flew without their luggage.

Despite an official warning, the situation appears largely unchanged. The recent survey indicates that 41 percent of respondents believe “speed often until always, goes for safety.”

“This is really worrying, safety should be in the first place,” says FNV director **Jansen**, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Comparing to Schiphol Airport

**Jansen** draws a comparison to a TNO study at Schiphol, noting that **Skytanking** employees face even more challenging conditions. “We have presented almost the same questionnaire to **SkyTanking** employees and the results show that the circumstances under which employees have to work are even worse than those at Schiphol,” he stated.

To address these issues, the FNV is advocating for minimum staffing levels, greater employee control over schedules, and structural improvements to workplace safety. According to a recent report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, “higher job demands are associated with increased risk of accidents and injuries” (EU-OSHA, 2024).

Airport Response

Eindhoven Airport acknowledges the survey results and intends to discuss the matter with **Skytanking**. Airport spokesperson **Gijs Venken** stated, “If there are worries about safety at the airport, for which we are ultimately responsible, we will be happy to discuss it with the company.”

**Skytanking** has yet to respond to the allegations.