Massive German airport strike set to ground flights on Monday

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany's air travel sector faces severe disruption Monday as the ver.di union announced a coordinated 24-hour strike affecting 11 major airports across the country.

The industrial action, which will impact international hubs including Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin-Brandenburg, stems from an ongoing wage dispute between the union and federal and municipal employers.

The strike will begin at midnight Monday (2300GMT Sunday) and continue until 11.59 pm (2259GMT), with workers planning to gather for demonstrations throughout the day. The additional airports affected by the strike include Hamburg, Cologne-Bonn, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Bremen, Hannover, and Leipzig/Halle.

Ver.di is demanding an 8% wage increase or a minimum monthly raise of €350 ($380) for its members, along with improved compensation for irregular working hours and three additional vacation days. Union officials say the action comes after employers failed to present an offer during the latest round of negotiations.

“We require better working conditions, more time off, and appropriate compensation for all public sector employees, including thousands of colleagues who keep air traffic running daily,” ver.di said in a statement. “After two rounds of negotiations without a reasonable offer from public employers, we must now resort to strike action.”

Government negotiators have dismissed the union's demands, citing economic constraints and budgetary limitations. The next round of negotiations, scheduled for late next week, will be crucial in determining whether a compromise can be reached to avoid further industrial action.