Anger over strikebreaking bonuses
Verdi warning strike has begun – around 1,100 flights affected
February 1, 2024, 3:38 a.m
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The security staff at airports are fighting for better pay: Flight operations are now significantly restricted at eleven larger airports and have come to a complete standstill at some locations. In Düsseldorf, a security company tries to lure employees with a special payment.
Airline passengers need strong nerves today: the Verdi union began its aviation security warning strike late in the evening. The start was in Cologne/Bonn, where, according to Verdi, the night shift of passenger control did not show up for work. Participation there is one hundred percent, said the responsible union secretary Özay Tarim. “That was a successful start to the strike.”
Around 80 percent of the flight movements that were planned in Cologne/Bonn for today have been canceled there, as can be seen from the airport website. Verdi man Tarim expects this proportion to increase over the course of the day. The consequences are even more serious at Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart airports, where all takeoffs have been canceled. In Düsseldorf, however, it was only a third, two thirds of the flight movements should be carried out.
The employees at the checkpoints at eleven larger airports outside Bavaria are called upon. If they stop working completely, no passengers from outside will come to the aircraft in the security area. In Frankfurt, the main customer Lufthansa wants to maintain the majority of its program including long-distance flights. Flights for those transferring will also be offered. The airline warns that there could be longer waiting times for passengers in the transit area.
Verdi wants 2.80 euros more hourly wages
According to estimates by the airport association ADV, around 1,100 flights will be canceled or delayed. Around 200,000 passengers are affected. Normal flight operations should not be possible again until next day. Then the next Verdi warning strike is already planned – nationwide in local public transport. Trade unionist Tarim said they wanted to send a clear signal. “We will now use employees to put pressure on employers so that we can finally make progress at the negotiating table.” The employee representative criticized the fact that a security company at Düsseldorf Airport had offered an extra payment of 200 euros gross so that employees could come to work despite the warning strike. He sees such a “strikebreaking bonus” as a provocation. The problem should be solved at the negotiating table instead of dragging it out with bonuses, he complained.
Verdi is demanding 2.80 euros more wages per hour, higher functional bonuses and overtime bonuses from the first hour of overtime for the around 25,000 industry employees nationwide. The new collective agreement should have a term of 12 months. According to the employers, these demands would mean additional costs of 250 million euros in the current year alone.