Planes grounded, airports deserted as German staff strike

Airplanes across Germany were grounded on Monday as thousands of airport staff walked off the job in a full-day "warning" strike. 

It comes amid demands from employees and the trade union Verdi for a wage increase of eight percent or at least $380, higher bonuses and more days off per year.

Verdi says two previous rounds of collective bargaining have failed to produce a "reasonable offer," while the federal government and local municipalities have argued that these demands are not financially viable.

Public sector employees of airport operators, ground handling services and aviation security departments all walked off the job at 13 German airports – including the country's busiest, Frankfurt, where 1,054 of 1,116 take offs and landings were expected to be canceled.

American passenger Doris said she understood what they are fighting for, "but it's difficult when you're dependent on the flight and you have to organize everything."

Munich international airport, Germany's second busiest, operated only around 20 percent of its originally planned flights. Digital flight boards and announcements across the airport reported that several flights would be delayed for an indefinite time or canceled due to strike action.

Passenger Kate Tomalison, who was able to catch her flight to Dublin, said she understood the reasons behind the strike: "This is not the first time. Inflation is pushing employees in all sectors to demand more."

Half a million affected

Airports in Bremen, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig/Halle and Stuttgart have also been affected. According to Germany's airport association, ADV, more than half a million people are expected to be affected by the cancellation or disruption of around 3,400 flights countrywide.

Verdi deputy chair Christine Behle said "We regret the inconvenience that this strike will cause for passengers, but without the pressure of industrial action, there will be no movement in the negotiations."

Many of the airports affected remained rather quiet on Monday as the strike was announced last Friday, giving some passengers enough advance warning.

However at Hamburg airport, strike action began Sunday evening in what airport officials said was "without advanced warning," leaving passengers stranded with some having already checked in their bags and unable to get them returned.

The full-day warning strike will end at a minute to midnight on Monday with flights resuming to normal on Tuesday, March 11. Collective negotiations are expected to continue on Friday and throughout the weekend.