BERLIN: Hundreds of thousands of travelers in Germany encountered travel disruptions on Thursday as rail and airport workers initiated fresh strikes to advocate for increased wages.
The strikes come amidst ongoing labor disputes across various sectors in Germany, fueled by concerns over high inflation and sluggish economic activity.
Rail workers commenced a 35-hour strike on freight services on Wednesday evening, extending to passenger services early Thursday morning.
The strikes aim to underscore the GDL train drivers union’s demand to reduce the working week from 38 to 35 hours. Workers have been staging strikes for months, citing the need for higher wages to cope with rising living costs due to inflation.
GDL boss Claus Weselsky hinted at future strikes, signaling an escalation in labor action. Weselsky criticized rail operator Deutsche Bahn for failing to address workers’ demands adequately, despite the company’s concession of a 13 percent pay increase.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa ground staff launched a nationwide strike from Thursday morning until early Saturday. Additionally, security staff at Frankfurt and Hamburg airports held a one-day walkout, prompting significant disruptions and flight cancellations, particularly at Frankfurt airport, Germany’s largest aviation hub.
The strikes have further strained relations between workers’ representatives and management, with both sides blaming each other for the travel chaos. The Verdi union, representing airport workers, seeks a 12.5 percent pay raise and a minimum monthly increase of 500 euros. Lufthansa’s proposed pay increases, although extended over time, fall short of meeting Verdi’s demands.
The strikes underscore growing tensions in Germany’s labor market, as workers push for improved wages and working conditions amid economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures.
