Berlin airport workers strike leaving all flights grounded

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Jan 2023 16:01

The United Services Union, ver.di, announces the Berlin airport strike as workers demand increased wages due to inflation.

Demonstrators hold a banner during a general strike by employees over pay demands, at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), in Schoenefeld near Berlin, Germany January 25, 2023 (Reuters).

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) ground services employees, under the United Services Union, ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft), staged a walkout demanding a pay raise, which left all passenger flights grounded until further notice.

According to airport authorities, approximately 300 flights, which carry around 35,000 passengers to and from BER have been canceled. It is worth noting that BER is one of Germany's busiest airport.

Earlier on Monday, ver.di called for a "warning strike". It demanded a 10.5% raise in base wages, with a minimum of 500 euros per month over a 12-month period.

Bodenverkehrsdienste, Flughafengesellschaft und Luftsicherheit am #BER streiken (25.1.23). Anlass für den #Streik sind parallel laufende Tarifrunden, für die sich in allen drei Bereichen bislang keine Lösung abzeichnet: https://t.co/tCo4MI3Eay pic.twitter.com/Uje725OHKb
— ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (@_verdi) January 25, 2023

“Unfortunately, there was no positive signal to the employees. The material worries and the overburdening situation in the public service are acknowledged, but no solutions are proposed. That won't be enough," said ver.di chairman Frank Werneke in Potsdam, regarding the first round of negotiations which was concluded on Tuesday.

Additionally, Werneke noted, "Whether it's a pandemic or the consequences of the war in Ukraine - the public service is challenged like never before: the workforce will not be fobbed off with warm words in this wage round," and warned that "employers are well advised to take this message seriously."

The next round of negotiations will later take place on February 22 and 23, while a follow-up has been scheduled for March 27 to 29.