• Germany edition
No trams running in Dortmund on Thursday morning. Photo: DPA

New round of public worker strikes hit air and commuter traffic

Published: 4 Feb 10 08:49 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100204-25025.html

Temporary strikes by public workers continued into a second day on Thursday, delaying flights and crippling public transportation across the country just as the morning rush began.

Ground personnel at airports in Düsseldorf and Cologne walked off their jobs as the morning shift began. No flight cancellations were reported, but public workers’ union Verdi predicted there would be major delays as the day continued.

In the states of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia bus and tram drivers also went on strike.

Across Germany workers from trash collection, public services, child care centres, senior homes, employment agencies and theatres were also called to show their solidarity in the ongoing wage dispute with state and municipal employers.

Verdi leader Frank Bsirske, who is fighting to get public employees a five percent pay raise, plans to speak to supporters in Dortmund, and has accused employers of using “stalling tactics” in negotiations.

“Theoretically they have already taken a pass on a settlement,” Bsirske told a group striking tram employees in Stuttgart, adding that he still hoped for results during upcoming meetings.

State and municipal employers have criticised Verdi’s demands, saying they can’t afford to pay workers more following the worst recession since World War II last year. The second round of talks between the two groups broke down on Monday with no agreement.

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

10:02 February 4, 2010 by quoka
So these parasites want ANOTHER 5% pay rise.

Maybe they fail to realize they're doing what known as "unskilled labor", sack them all and make all the freed up positions 1€ jobs.
06:24 February 5, 2010 by Dave Rogers
Is it really "unskilled labor" though.

I disagree with the strike, I had to run to work this morning but they are far from "parasites" and please dont let your ignorance blind you from that fact that these "unskilled labor" roles do require set skills.
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