Aviation Security Workers at German Airports Announce Strike
Aviation security workers at multiple German airports are set to go on strike on February 1, as the United Services Union (ver.di) has called for the strike to demand increased wages. The strike will affect several German airports, including Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main, and Stuttgart.
The union is demanding a €2.80 hourly wage increase and enhanced functional and overtime bonuses from the first hour, spanning a twelve-month collective agreement. This comes after three rounds of collective bargaining with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) failed to reach an agreement.
Wolfgang Pieper, a negotiator from Ver.di, emphasized that the demand aims to compensate for the loss of purchasing power of employees caused by inflation and to keep aviation security work financially attractive to recruit and retain skilled workers.
On the other hand, the potential offer from employers includes a four per cent wage increase in 2024 and further three per cent growth in 2025. However, Ver.di has rejected the offer, stating that it is inadequate and fails to address the high inflation of the last two years.
Berlin Airport (BER) and Hanover Airport have confirmed the cancellation of departures on Thursday, while Hamburg Airport announced the closure of the central security checkpoint for the entire day.
Affected passengers are advised to reach out to their tour operators for details on rebooking and alternative travel options. The collective bargaining is scheduled to resume on February 6 and 7 in Berlin. This strike is expected to cause disruptions for air travelers in Germany.
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