Airport chaos expected in Germany as security staff plan strike on Thursday
The Verdi union has called an airport security staff strike on Thursday at several German airports, potentially bringing air traffic around the country to a temporary halt.
Germany is bracing for a week of strikes with the Verdi union having called its latest job action - this time on behalf of airport security workers.
The planned strike could largely paralyse air traffic over the country on Thursday.
Staff will walk out at Frankfurt, Germany's biggest airport, as well as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt and Stuttgart. Exceptions include Munich Airport and some smaller airports.
Around 25,000 employees will be asked to stop working from the early morning, with action to last until midnight on Thursday going into Friday morning.
Verdi is currently negotiating a new collective agreement with German airports and demanding higher salaries for airport workers.
No agreement has been reached with management on salaries after three rounds of talks, according to a statement from the union.
The union is seeking €2.80 more per hour as well as increases to other allowances to help staff combat inflation, which has risen sharply since last year.
"Our aim is to compensate for employees' loss of purchasing power," said Wolfgang Pieper from Verdi.
"The work of aviation security staff must remain financially attractive in order to attract and retain urgently needed skilled labour."
So far, employers had offered salary increases of four percent in 2024, and three percent in 2025. But Pieper said this was "completely inadequate".
Negotiations will continue next week.
Germany has been hit by a wave of strikes in recent weeks.
Last week, train drivers staged a five-day walkout, their longest ever and the fourth time they have gone on strike since November.
Verdi has called a public transport strike across the country for Friday, which will bring buses, trams and underground services to a standstill.
READ ALSO: Germany to see another nationwide public transport strike on Friday
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Germany is bracing for a week of strikes with the Verdi union having called its latest job action - this time on behalf of airport security workers.
The planned strike could largely paralyse air traffic over the country on Thursday.
Staff will walk out at Frankfurt, Germany's biggest airport, as well as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt and Stuttgart. Exceptions include Munich Airport and some smaller airports.
Around 25,000 employees will be asked to stop working from the early morning, with action to last until midnight on Thursday going into Friday morning.
Verdi is currently negotiating a new collective agreement with German airports and demanding higher salaries for airport workers.
No agreement has been reached with management on salaries after three rounds of talks, according to a statement from the union.
The union is seeking €2.80 more per hour as well as increases to other allowances to help staff combat inflation, which has risen sharply since last year.
"Our aim is to compensate for employees' loss of purchasing power," said Wolfgang Pieper from Verdi.
"The work of aviation security staff must remain financially attractive in order to attract and retain urgently needed skilled labour."
So far, employers had offered salary increases of four percent in 2024, and three percent in 2025. But Pieper said this was "completely inadequate".
Negotiations will continue next week.
Germany has been hit by a wave of strikes in recent weeks.
Last week, train drivers staged a five-day walkout, their longest ever and the fourth time they have gone on strike since November.
Verdi has called a public transport strike across the country for Friday, which will bring buses, trams and underground services to a standstill.
READ ALSO: Germany to see another nationwide public transport strike on Friday
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