air traffic
Wave of warning strikes by aviation security forces begins in Hamburg
A warning strike by security staff will lead to restrictions at many German airports on Thursday. photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
Whether bus, train or plane: strikes are ruining many people’s travel plans these days. On Thursday it’s that time again: there are no flights at some airports.
There’s a new one at Hamburg airport in the evening Wave of warning strikes by employees in the aviation security sector has begun. They have been on strike since 10 p.m., as a spokesman for the Verdi union confirmed. The warning strike is scheduled to last 24 hours.
The fifth largest airport has already announced that all take-offs with passengers have been canceled for Thursday. 141 planned departures are affected. It can also be assumed that the after-effects of the strike will still be felt on Friday – and thus at the start of the holidays in Hamburg. Planes could land on Thursday. “Nevertheless, there may be flight cancellations and significant delays throughout the day for arrivals at Hamburg Airport due to the Verdi strike,” it said.
These airports are affected
According to Verdi, the all-day strike by aviation security forces on Thursday will gradually affect Stuttgart, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Cologne and Berlin airports over the course of the night after Hamburg. Verdi also called on aviation security personnel to go on warning strikes on Friday. Then the five airports will gradually hit Hanover, Dortmund, Weeze, Dresden and Leipzig.
Aviation security collective bargaining concerns the working conditions of around 25,000 employees of private security service providers. On behalf of the Federal Police, they check passengers, staff and luggage at the entrances to the security area. So far, five rounds of negotiations have failed to produce any results in the conflict.
Verdi is calling for an hourly wage increase of 2.80 euros over a period of twelve months, with overtime bonuses starting more quickly from the first hour of overtime. According to their own information, the aviation security companies organized in the BDLS association have offered 2.70 euros in three stages, with a term of 24 months. A sixth hearing is scheduled for March 20th.