Berlin [Germany], April 19:German trade union Verdi has called for all-day strikes on Thursday and Friday for employees in several areas of Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Cologne/Bonn airports, while union sources said rail companies were also planning a nationwide strike on Friday. The airport staff affected by the walkout include security, passenger control, personnel and goods control, and service areas. "Longer waiting times or even flight cancellations are expected due to the strike," the Verdi trade union warned on Tuesday.
Hamburg Airport later announced that all departures would be cancelled on Thursday and Friday due to the strike, affecting almost 80,000 passengers. According to the data available, Hamburg's announcement means 152 departures on Thursday and 156 on Friday would be cancelled or go ahead without any passengers. While planes could still land, arriving passengers should expect delays and cancellations, the airport said.
The strikes were called amid negotiations between Verdi and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) on bonuses for night shifts, Saturdays, Sundays and work on public holidays. Workers also fight for a better collective agreement on overtime pay for security and service staff at commercial airports. A written offer by BDLS was insufficient, the union stressed.
Negotiations are expected to continue on April 27 and 28. The German Air Transport Association slammed the planned strikes as making preparations for summer travel more difficult. "Those who suffer are the travellers and also our companies, who have now committed to smooth flight operations again after the pandemic-related travel restrictions," said BDL chief executive Matthias von Randow. The BDL noted that there were strikes at German airports almost every 11th day during the year's first three months. Major strikes in late March led to the cancellation of around 3,500 flights, far more than were cancelled throughout 2019 due to industrial action.(DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
