“Don’t Travel” Warning As Major German Airports Face Huge Friday Strikes

Air travel in and out of some of Germany’s busiest airports is set to face significant disruption on Friday due to a one-day strike. Called by trade union Ver.di, this will see public sector, aviation security and ground handling workers walk out in the early hours of February 17th, with the industrial action ending that evening.
Widespread action
Ver.di, known in full as the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (United Services Trade Union), has called other strikes that have affected German airports in recent years. Being the second largest trade union in Germany, its industrial action, which it announced early this morning, will bring significant disruption.
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A statement by Ver.di detailed the impacted airports, with it being immediately obvious that some of Germany’s main hubs, such as Frankfurt and Munich, are present. Bremen, Dortmund, Hamburg, Hanover, and Stuttgart will also see walkouts. Such is the projected extent of the disruption that Frankfurt Airport is advising passengers against traveling. Ver.di’s Christine Behle explains:
“Inflation and high energy and food prices are driving most workers into an insecure situation. Many no longer know how to pay their rent and fill the fridge. They need significantly more money to make a living. Employers need to see that and react accordingly. You have to reward the good work of the employees and relieve them of the immense financial pressure.”
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A warning strike ahead of talks
In some instances, we have seen strikes occur due to talks concerning collective bargaining agreements falling through. However, in this case, Ver.di has explained that the planned industrial action should serve as a warning strike ahead of talks. These are set to take place in a week’s time, on February 22nd and 23rd.
As Deutsche Welle explains, these negotiations will be the second round of talks that it holds with public-sector employers. Ver.di hopes that, if it has the desired effect, its warning strike taking place this coming Friday will prevent the negotiations from ending without a collective bargaining agreement. Behle adds:
“In the public sector, we are facing the second round of negotiations without an offer, and are demanding that the employers submit a negotiable offer on February 22nd/23rd.”
Photo: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock
Some exceptions, but disruption remains likely
Ver.di is ensuring that, despite the disruption at some of Germany’s busiest airports on Friday, aid flights delivering supplies to Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquake will not be affected. To minimize disruption in this regard, it has drawn up emergency service agreements to allow such work to continue. In any case, most of these flights depart from Frankfurt Hahn, which is unaffected.
The union also made a point of announcing its strike this morning to give airports, airlines, and passengers a couple of days’ notice to alter their travel plans if necessary. However, this may not be enough time for everyone to get their itineraries fixed, given that, as Hamburg Airport notes, “cancellations and delays are to be expected, up to and including the complete suspension of passenger flights.”
Sources: Deutsche Welle, Hamburg Airport, Ver.di