Strike in Germany, 3,400 flights canceled

A 24-hour strike at major German airports on March 10 led to the cancellation of more than 3,400 flights, affecting half a million passengers.

Members of the German trade union Verdi strike at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) in Schoenefeld, southeast of Berlin, Germany on March 10 - Photo: AFP

AFP news agency quoted information from the German Airports Association (ADV) as saying that about 3,400 flights, including flights to and from the capital Berlin, were affected by the strike, affecting about 500,000 passengers.

At Frankfurt, the European country's busiest airport, operator Fraport said no passengers were able to board flights and disruption would "almost certainly" affect travel.

Airports in Bremen, Cologne, Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart... were also affected. According to DW, the nationwide strike has brought aviation operations to a near standstill at 13 German airports.

A series of flights were canceled in Germany due to the strike on March 10 - Photo: AFP

Last week, the Verdi union said it was calling on public sector workers and some 23,000 employees of ground service providers to strike to send a message to management.

"We regret the inconvenience this strike will cause to passengers. But without the pressure from strike action, the negotiations will not progress," said Verdi Vice President Christine Behle.

Strikers walk with their dogs at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) in Schoenefeld, southeast of Berlin, Germany on March 10 - Photo: AFP

The Verdi union is demanding a collective wage agreement for nearly 2.5 million public sector workers.

The union is demanding an 8% pay rise or at least 350 euros ($380) a month for workers and increased bonuses for particularly stressful operations.

“We are forced to launch this warning strike because the employers have not yet made an offer in the ongoing collective bargaining for public sector employees and have not shown any willingness to meet our legitimate demands,” they explained.

However, the German government and local authorities said Verdi's proposals were financially unfeasible.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dinh-cong-tai-duc-3-400-chuyen-bay-bi-huy-20250310202057434.htm