THE HAGUE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Dutch airline KLM's ground staff will strike on next Wednesday, or July 9, demanding higher wages, unions CNV and FNV announced Wednesday.

The strike comes as the summer holiday season officially begins in parts of the Netherlands, making airports particularly busy.

KLM spokesperson Anoesjka Aspeslagh warned that "If the strike goes ahead, we will be forced to cancel several flights on July 9," adding that the airline is still assessing the full impact of the planned action.

The strike centers on negotiations for a new collective labor agreement (CLA) covering approximately 14,000 KLM ground staff, including platform workers, passenger service employees, technicians, and office staff. The current CLA expired on March 1.

Earlier, KLM and Schiphol Airport described the planned action as disproportionate, especially with around 161,000 passengers expected to be affected. ■