Hundreds of flights canceled due to strike in Germany

Hundreds of flights were canceled due to the warning strike by employees at the Berlin-Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen airports in Germany.

Security personnel working at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport held a one-day action at the request of the Verdi Union, demanding an increase in additional wages paid on weekends and holidays. Although approximately 270 flights at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport were canceled due to the warning strike, employees gathered on the Willy-Brandt square in front of the airport and demonstrated.

In a speech here, Enrico Rümker of the Verdi Union stated that they went on strike over an increase in the additional wages paid on weekends and public holidays and said: “We have been negotiating with employers on this issue since 2016. The current arrangement it is also from 2006. A lot has happened since then and we have to adapt (rates) in this regard. To date, no serious offers have been made by employers,” he said.

Rümker warned that if the employers do not agree, they can extend the strike.

Sabine Deckwerth, press spokesperson for the Berlin-Brandenburg Airport company, said in a statement to the AA correspondent that approximately 200 flights leaving the airport and 70 flights arriving at the airport were canceled due to the strike. Deckwerth spokesman said that 27,000 passengers were affected by the cancellations.

At the airports in Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen, ground and security staff working in public companies went on a warning strike at the call of the Verdi Union. A total of 173 takeoffs and landings were reported at Hamburg, 76 at Hanover, and 39 at Bremen.

Demanding a salary increase of 10.5 percent or at least 500 euros for those who work in public companies, the Verdi Union intends to increase the pressure on employers with these warning strikes before the collective negotiations that will be held from 27 to 29 of March. (AA)