Protesters in front of 'Landungsbruecken' at the harbor during a nationwide strike over wages in Hamburg. Fabian Bimmer / Reuters
Commuters in Germany had to tackle transport chaos on Monday with cities brought to a near standstill due to a major strike with workers pushing for wage increases in the face of rising inflation. Workers at airports, ports, railways, buses and metro lines throughout much of Europe's top economy heeded a call by the Verdi and EVG unions for the 24-hour walkout.
"A labor struggle that has no impact is toothless," Verdi boss Frank Werneke said.
He accepted the stoppage would inflict pain on travelers claimed "but better one day of strain with the prospect of reaching a wage agreement than weeks of industrial action."
Berlin's usually bustling central train station was mostly quiet on Monday morning, after the national railway canceled long-distance and regional links across the country. Arrival and departure boards at Frankfurt airport, the nation's biggest, and Munich airport showed rows of canceled flights.
READ MORE
EU plan for Europe's green revolution
COP27 impact: Achievements and setbacks
Bridge Builders bringing the UK and China together
To prevent supply gaps, Transport Minister Volker Wissing had ordered states to lift restrictions on truck deliveries on Sunday, while asking airports to allow late-night takeoffs and landings "so stranded passengers can reach their destinations."
Verdi represents around 2.5 million public sector employees, while EVG represents 230,000 workers on the railways and at bus companies.
The rare joint strike marks an escalation of an increasingly ill-tempered dispute over a pay packet to blunt the impact of surging inflation.
Workers have been protesting during a 24 hour walk-out on Monday. Fabian Bimmer / Reuters
Employers, mostly the state and public sector companies, have so far refused the demands, instead offering a rise of five percent with two one-off payments of $1,100 and $1,610, this year and next.
Verdi is demanding a rise of 10.5 percent in monthly salaries, while EVG is seeking a 12-percent increase for those it represents.
Martin Seiler, head of human resources at state-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn, has described the nationwide strike as "groundless and unnecessary" and urged the unions to return to the negotiating table "immediately."
The German airport association, which estimated about 380,000 air travelers would be affected, said the walkout "went beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure."
Employers have accused labor representatives of contributing to a wage-price spiral that will only feed inflation, while unions say their members have been asked to bear the burden of the soaring cost of living.
"Petrol and food prices have risen. I'm feeling it in my wallet," said Timo Stau, 21, at a protest in Berlin.
As in many other countries, people in Germany are struggling with high inflation, which hit 8.7 percent in February, after Russia's military offensive in Ukraine sent food and energy costs soaring. The "mega-strike," as local media have dubbed it, follows industrial action in recent months in several sectors, from the postal service to airports and local transport.
A third round of salary negotiations for public sector workers was due to begin on Monday.
Earlier in March, airports in Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg and Hanover canceled more than 350 flights after security staff walked out. Bus and metro staff in Frankfurt also staged a strike. Some unions however have succeeded in winning big pay increases.
Postal workers obtained average monthly increases of 11.5 percent earlier in March, and in November IG Metall, Germany's biggest union, won hikes totaling 8.5 percent for almost four million employees that it represents.