A significant warning strike led by the ver.di union will disrupt air travel across Germany starting Monday, affecting eleven major airports and resulting in around 3,400 flight cancellations, impacting approximately 510,000 passengers. Travelers are advised to contact airlines for rebooking. The strike aims to pressure employers in ongoing wage negotiations, with the union demanding an eight percent wage increase and better conditions. Critics argue that the strike unfairly burdens passengers as negotiations stall.
Warning Strike at Major German Airports: What Travelers Need to Know
Travelers should brace themselves starting Monday as a significant warning strike, initiated by the ver.di union, impacts air travel across Germany. According to the ADV (Airport Association), approximately 510,000 passengers will face disruptions, with estimates indicating that over 3,400 flights will be canceled. ADV managing director Ralph Beisel has described the situation as a ‘disproportionate’ effect on travelers.
Airports Affected and Travel Advice
The strike will affect eleven of Germany’s major airports, including Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Berlin/Brandenburg, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart, Hanover, Dortmund, Leipzig/Halle, and Bremen. Passengers are strongly encouraged to reach out to their airlines or travel agencies to explore rebooking options and alternative travel arrangements.
On Monday, operations at Berlin/Brandenburg airport will be entirely suspended, while other airports anticipate a greatly reduced flight schedule, leading to potential delays. For instance, Frankfurt’s airport operator, Fraport, has indicated that around 1,170 flights involving over 150,000 passengers were initially scheduled for Monday.
Furthermore, around 23,000 employees from ground handling services across nearly all German airports, tasked with check-in and baggage management, are expected to participate in the strike.
This warning strike is part of the union’s strategy to amplify pressure on employers ahead of the third round of negotiations for public service employees at the federal and municipal levels. The strike might begin as early as Sunday evening and could extend into Tuesday morning for some shifts. Demonstrations are planned at various airports, with ver.di chief Frank Werneke set to address employees in Hamburg.
Both Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf airports will experience significant limitations due to the warning strike.
In prior strikes in February, airports in Munich, Cologne/Bonn, and Düsseldorf faced numerous flight cancellations. Ver.di has attributed this latest strike to the absence of a satisfactory offer from employers during ongoing wage negotiations.
Christine Behle, deputy chair of ver.di, expressed regret for the inconveniences faced by passengers but emphasized that without pressure from labor disputes, there would be no progress in negotiations.
The Federal Association of German Air Transport criticized the strike, labeling it ‘disproportionate’ and asserting that passengers are bearing the brunt of the wage conflict even before negotiations resume. Managing director Joachim Lang voiced concerns over the situation.
The union plans to disrupt operations in Munich and Hamburg for two days. Previous negotiations have not yielded any results, leading to the upcoming discussions scheduled from Friday to Sunday next week in Potsdam.
Ver.di is advocating for an eight percent wage increase, a minimum of 350 euros more per month, increased allowances for demanding tasks, and three additional days off. However, municipal employers have dismissed these demands, with VKA president and Gelsenkirchen mayor Karin Welge labeling the eight percent increase as ‘unrealistic’ amid ongoing economic challenges, while expressing a desire for a swift resolution.