German airport chaos: Strike disrupts travel on March 10
Travelers planning to take off or land in Germany on Monday, March 10, should brace for significant disruptions. Due to a general strike by airport workers, severe disruptions will occur at 11 of the country's largest airports.
On March 10, the German trade union Ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft) is calling on airport staff, as well as about 23,000 employees of ground handling companies, to participate in a full-day warning strike. As a result, there will be drastic restrictions on departures and arrivals, including some flight cancellations.
Workers bear responsibility for safety
"We believe we are forced to undertake this warning strike because the employers have not yet made any offers in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations for public sector employees and have shown no willingness to meet our justified demands," said Christine Behle, deputy chair of the trade union Ver.di. "Airport workers perform essential tasks that ensure the smooth operation of air traffic and bear significant responsibility for the safety of all passengers. They also deserve fair pay and better working conditions."
The trade union is demanding an eight percent pay increase or at least an increase of about $325 per month. They decided to call the warning strike after the second round of collective bargaining negotiations failed last month.
Employers have rejected these demands as impossible to meet. Negotiations are set to continue from March 14 to 16 in Potsdam.
Which airports will strike?
The unions announced their protest action well in advance to allow air passengers to factor the inconveniences into their travel plans.
The airports that will be affected by the strike on March 10 are: Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin Brandenburg, and Leipzig/Halle. Passengers with journeys through these airports must be prepared for flight delays and cancellations.
"We apologize for the inconvenience the strike will cause passengers. However, without the pressure exerted by the protest action, there will be no progress in negotiations. Therefore, we are informing you today so that travelers can prepare for the restrictions in advance," said Christine Behle.
