News / Latest strike will cause ‘massive' disruption at German airports

Frankfurt Airport, Europe’s leading hub for air cargo, has warned of “massive disruption” to flight operations on Monday from a one-day ‘warning’ strike.

Members of Germany’s Verdi trade union, which represents public sector workers, are demanding wage increases.

Airport authority Fraport said: “All services essential for maintaining full flight operations will be suspended during the strike period.” And it added that the walkout would “most likely affect connecting flights”.

A spokesperson for Lufthansa Cargo said: “Fraport has already announced heavy disruptions. Lufthansa Cargo will decide on the necessary measures shortly. We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on shipments.”

The 24-hour stoppage will also affect airports across the country, including Cologne/Bonn and Leipzig-Halle, which are important cargo hubs, as well as Stuttgart, Duesseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin.

Last month, industrial action related to the dispute, caused flight cancellations at Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Munich airports.

Verdi today also called on ground staff to strike for 24 hours – the union is negotiating a separate collective agreement for these workers.

The union’s deputy chair, Christine Behle, said: “We regret the inconvenience this strike will cause. But without the pressure of industrial action, there will be no movement in the negotiations.”

Industrial action is due to start at midnight on Sunday.

Verdi is demanding an 8% wage increase, or at least an increase of €350 per month, as well as higher bonuses and additional time off. It said it called for the 24-hour stoppage after a second round of collective bargaining last month failed to resolve the dispute.

The demands have been dismissed as unaffordable by employers; they are due to meet union representatives for a fresh round of negotiations on March 14-16.