Security staff strike at German airports on Thursday

Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport said on Tuesday (January 30) that there would be no flights for passengers on Thursday (February 1) due to strikes organized by transport union Verdi to increase pressure on the government in wage negotiations.

A nearly empty check-in counter during a security staff strike at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, Germany in April 2023. Photo: Reuters

Verdi said the one-day strike is planned at airports including Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne, Duesseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, which will halt both cargo and passenger services.

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport had previously expected around 170 takeoffs and landings carrying nearly 50,000 passengers on Thursday. An airport statement said passengers arriving in Berlin could also be affected.

The air and rail transport sectors of Europe's largest economy have been hit by a series of intermittent shutdowns as workers demand higher wages to cope with the impact of inflation.

The Verdi union, which represents 25,000 aviation security workers, is negotiating with the government . It wants a 2.80 euro ($3.03) hourly wage increase and more generous overtime pay for 12 months.

"Our goal is to compensate for the loss of purchasing power of employees in the long term," said Verdi's chief negotiator Wolfgang Pieper.

“The job of an aviation security officer must remain financially attractive in order to recruit and retain the necessary skilled workforce,” he added.

Verdi said employers had offered a 4% pay rise this year and a further 3% next year, which the union said was “completely inadequate”. Talks will take place on February 6 and 7.

In addition to airports, Verdi plans to hold a separate strike on public transport on Friday across 15 of Germany's 16 states.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhan-vien-an-ninh-duc-se-dinh-cong-vao-thu-nam-nhieu-san-bay-co-the-phai-dong-cua-post283123.html