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DALLAS — March 10, 2025, will likely be a day of headaches and inconvenience for passengers flying to or from Germany.
The United Services Trade Union (ver.di) has called for a full-day strike that will affect almost all major airports in Germany, leading to severe disruptions in their operations.
The announced strike will involve employees covered by the collective agreement for public sector workers (TVöD) and will also impact approximately 23,000 ground-handling staff. Flight cancellations, significant delays, and operational restrictions are almost certain to occur.
This latest strike action follows last year’s collective agreement in the air transport sector, which aligned wage increases for private companies with those in the public sector. However, ver.di representatives argue that further improvements are necessary to address issues related to fair compensation and increasing workloads for staff.
Causes, Demands
In a public statement, ver.di representatives explained that the strike resulted from stalled wage negotiations. Christine Behle, Deputy Chair of ver.di, stated, “We are forced to take this action because employers have yet to present an offer or show any willingness to meet our justified demands.”
Behle also emphasized that airport workers play a crucial role in ensuring air traffic safety and smooth operation and that fair wages and better working conditions are well deserved.
The union demands an 8% minimum wage increase—€350 per month. Higher bonuses for exceptionally demanding roles are also a requirement. Union representatives also request a €200 monthly increase for interns and apprentices, three additional days off, and introducing a new “My Time” account to provide employees with greater scheduling flexibility.
Ver.di has informed the public about the strike in advance to give passengers enough time to adjust or reschedule their travel plans. “We regret the inconvenience this causes travelers, but without pressure, there will be no progress in negotiations. By informing passengers early, we hope to give them enough time to prepare,” Behle said.
Airports Affected
The strike will inevitably impact operations at Germany’s major airport hubs, including:
- Munich
- Frankfurt/Main
- Berlin Brandenburg
- Düsseldorf
- Hamburg
- Stuttgart
- Cologne/Bonn
- Hanover
- Bremen
- Dortmund
- Leipzig-Halle
Tomorrow’s strike will disrupt or even paralyze airport operations across Germany. Passengers are advised to try rescheduling or rerouting their flights, closely monitor airline updates, and prepare for long delays.
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Featured image: Julian Schöpfer/Airways
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