Massive disruption ahead as strikes to hit 11 German airports Monday

Yahoo

07-03-2025

Workers at 11 German airports, including major transport hubs Frankfurt and Munich, are set to strike on Monday as part of an ongoing wage dispute, trade union verdi said.
Public sector workers and ground staff at the Berlin airport, as well as in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen and Leipzig-Halle have also been called on to join the 24-hour industrial action, meaning operations at all major German airports will be affected.
More than 3,400 flights will have to be cancelled due to the strike action, affecting some 510,000 travellers, according to an initial estimate by airport association ADV.
Germany has been hit by strikes as the union tries to increase pressure on the federal government and municipalities ahead of another round of talks on a collective wage agreement covering some 2.5 million public sector workers.
Verdi is demanding an 8% pay rise - worth a minimum of €350 ($365) more per month - as well as higher bonuses and three additional days off.
Employers have rejected the demands as unaffordable, with both sides due to meet near Berlin for a third round of negotiations from March 14 to 16.
Some 20,000 health care workers took part in industrial action on Thursday, while at least 30,000 employees at kindergartens and care facilities went on strike across the country on Friday, according to the union.
Verdi said Friday's strikes were also intended to send "a clear signal" on Equal Pay Day, marked each year on March 7, and International Women's Day on Saturday, calling for "more pay equity and better working conditions" for public sector workers in social professions, which are typically dominated by women.
Union calls 24-hour airport strike
A large share of employees at airport operators is covered by collective wage agreements for public sector workers, meaning they could join the industrial action due to start at midnight (2300 GMT Sunday).
Verdi on Friday also called on ground staff responsible for cleaning, loading and refuelling aircraft to strike for 24 hours, as the union is negotiating a separate collective agreement for the sector.
Industrial action related to the ongoing wage dispute led to flight cancellations at Germany's Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Munich airports last month.
Some 800,000 passengers have faced disruptions due to the collective bargaining negotiations so far, according to industry association ADV.
Public sector workers at Frankfurt Airport last went on strike in March 2023.
Verdi has criticized the employer side for not presenting a new offer during a second round of talks in mid-February.
"We have been forced to carry out this strike because the employers have so far not presented any offers in the current collective bargaining negotiations for public service employees and have shown no willingness to meet our justified demands," said verdi deputy chairwoman Christine Behle.
She noted that the strike was announced in advance to allow passengers to make alternative travel plans.
ADV managing director Ralph Beisel described the industrial action as a nightmare for affected passengers, citing "far-reaching consequences for individual mobility and economic processes."
Joachim Lang, managing director at German aviation association BDL called the plans disproportionate.
"An entire industry is being shut down across the board, even though airports and airlines, as well as restaurants, retailers and hotels, are not parties to the collective agreement," he said.
Workers in Frankfurt have been asked to join a rally on Monday morning.