Strikes have hit key airports in Germany, and disruptions for thousands of flights were expected through Monday, with public service workers, ground staff, and aviation security walking out for 24 hours.
The trade union Verdi is demanding a collective wage deal for nearly 2.5 million public sector workers. Monday’s strikes come after a second round of pay talks failed.
The federal government and local municipalities have said that Verdi’s proposals, including an 8% pay hike, higher bonuses, and three additional days off, are not financially viable.
Airport operations affected
, were disrupted, along with those at Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Leipzig-Halle.
Frankfurt Airport warned of significant disruptions and urged passengers to “check with their airlines on the flight status before coming to the airport.”
The industrial action aimed to cripple air transport across much of Germany.
Over 3,400 flights were expected to be canceled, affecting 510,000 travelers, according to the ADV airport association.
German aviation group Lufthansa said there would be “delays and extensive cancellations” on all the airliner’s flights to and from the affected airports.
Surprise early shutdown at Hamburg
by the strikes as workers walked out early, and almost all flights to and from the airport were canceled on Sunday.
The airport operator said that workers went on strike “without prior notice.”
A Verdi spokesman told DW: “The walkout was necessary so that the impact of the strike could really be felt.”
Several passengers were reported to be left stranded by the sudden walkout.
According to public broadcaster NDR, many had already checked in their luggage and were having problems getting it returned.
Further strikes were expected to go ahead this week in facilities operated by the federal government and local authorities, news agency DPA cited a Verdi spokesperson as saying.
The next round of wage negotiations was slated for Friday at Potsdam near the capital Berlin.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
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