Due to the all-day warning strike of the Verdi trade union, the largest employee representation is in the service sector Traffic at all four airports has come to an almost complete halt. Departing flights have been canceled almost without exception, and most incoming flights have been cancelled, too. At the largest airport, Berlin, for example, 200 departures have been canceled and a third of the nearly 200 planned landings will be missed, affecting nearly 27,000 passengers.
According to the Budapest Airport website, the flight cancellations are also affecting Budapest flights, with Ryanair’s morning flight to Berlin and Wizz Air’s afternoon flight to Berlin cancelled.
The work stoppage is related to negotiations on a collective agreement for about 2.3 million public sector workers. The groups of employees affected directly or indirectly include, for example, airport firefighters, aviation law enforcement and many other employees of local and regional airport operating companies.
Verdi demands a 10.5% wage increase and at least €500. The pressure is justified by the ineffectiveness of the first two rounds of negotiations. The employer’s side offers a 5 percent wage increase and a one-time payment of 2,500 euros. The third round of negotiations will be held in Potsdam on March 27-29.
Cover image: Getty Images
