The employees in the security control at Arlanda have in some cases been allowed to stand for more than six hours without a break – despite the fact that by law it is not allowed to go more than five hours. An employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, describes the situation at terminal five as chaotic.
– When I come to work and see the sex, I get a shock. But when I walk, it is at least as long, it’s like it has not moved. Many people may find us unpleasant, and that may be true. When you stand there for several hours without a break, it is difficult to keep a happy mood and smile on your face.
The employee tells that the congestion makes it hot in the cramped spaces, and that a lot of complaints have been made internally and concerns have been expressed about the workload.
– When we stand at the arches, we work like robots without knowing how long the queue is – it’s chaos. It’s crowded, bad with air, and because there are so many people, it’s like a sauna.
The Swedish Transport Workers’ Union confirms the image of a pressured working group that is at times worried about the coming months. At the same time, the union is calling for more testimonies and remarks from employees.
– The complaints are about the workload being extremely high. It is already long shifts and tough times, but with that pressure it is difficult to get the recovery you need, says Filip Rydolw, chairman of the Arlanda sector at the Swedish Transport Workers’ Union.
What do you need to solve work environment problems?
– The classic is that we need more staff. But to be honest, we need a better airport. There are a lot of people in one place, there are very many flights departing from the same place and at the same times of the day. All flights should be spread out.
In June, at least another 16 new routes will be opened from Arlanda. According to Swedavia, it is about meeting business growth and creating even more jobs.
Is it reasonable to open up 16 new routes when you can not meet the queues for the existing flights?
– The thing to remember is that Arlanda is one of Sweden’s largest workplaces. Even though we have a strained staff situation, travel creates hundreds of new jobs. We work in several areas to respond to that, says Robert Pletzin, press manager at Swedavia.
On June 15, terminal four will be opened for passengers who will primarily fly with Ryanair, which means that a new security check will also be added. The hope is that this will ease the pressure on terminal five and reduce the flow of passengers who have to queue for hours.
– We have built together terminals four and five, so that it is easier to get between the two without having to leave the respective terminal. Then we also get additional check-in counters. We absolutely expect that it will be a relief, says Robert Pletzin.
The security company Avarn, which handles the staffing of the security checks, is still recruiting to meet the need, and at present more than 150 new employees are waiting to be approved in the security assessment before they can start work.
– We are aware that on individual occasions there has been a break in the planning of breaks. It is unfortunate and something we really regret, says Mikael Högberg, press officer at Avarn.
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