On Monday, German air traffic is threatened with complete disruption due to a large-scale strike at no fewer than eleven airports.
The Verdi union has called on ground and security staff to stop working for 24 hours, with the impact on travellers and airlines being huge. Thousands of flights are expected to be cancelled or seriously delayed.
the airports that are at a standstill
The strike will affect some of Germany's largest airports, including Frankfurt, which is one of Europe's most important international hubs. Munich, Düsseldorf, Berlin-Brandenburg, Hamburg and Stuttgart will also be virtually at a standstill on Monday. Düsseldorf, an airport used by many Dutch travellers, will be particularly affected. Union representative Enrico Rümker warned in the Berliner Zeitung that passengers who want to fly via Berlin-Brandenburg should expect that "almost nothing will be flying."
The strike affects some of Germany’s major airports, including Frankfurt, the country’s largest airport, and Munich, the second largest. Düsseldorf, a popular airport for Dutch travellers, is also being hit hard. In addition, Berlin-Brandenburg, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Hannover, Leipzig-Halle, Bremen and Dortmund are virtually at a standstill, causing major disruption to German air traffic.
Travelers are advised to make alternative plans ahead of time and, if possible, reschedule their trip.
Verdi has been campaigning for better working conditions in the public sector for some time, including for ground staff and airport security. The union is demanding an 8 percent wage increase, higher allowances for stressful work and three extra days off. They also want interns to receive an extra 200 euros per month as salary or training allowance. Employers call these demands financially unfeasible and refuse to meet the demands, making the strike inevitable.
“It is unfortunate that passengers are the ones who suffer as a result, but we see no other way to enforce our demands,” said a Verdi spokesperson.
A large demonstration will be organised in several cities on Monday, where thousands of public sector workers will make their voices heard.
many more sectors
The actions at the airports are not isolated. The collective labor agreement that Verdi is fighting for applies to over 2,5 million employees in the public sector. Earlier this week, healthcare workers and childcare workers already went on strike. The strikes show how widespread the discontent among employees is and the pressure on the government and employers is increasing.
Previous strikes at German airports, such as those in Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn, have led to hundreds of cancelled flights. At the end of February, air traffic in Munich was largely halted for two days due to similar actions.
Passengers flying to or from Germany on Monday are advised to keep a close eye on their airline's updates. Major delays and cancellations are inevitable. Airlines will likely try to rebook flights, but capacity on alternative routes is limited.
