In Hamburg and Frankfurt
Aviation security forces are also on strike
March 5, 2024, 8:06 p.m
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The Verdi union is intensifying the planned warning strike in aviation. In parallel to the strike by Lufthansa ground staff, the union is also calling on aviation security forces in Frankfurt and Hamburg to stop work on Thursday.
Verdi intensifies strikes in aviation. In addition to the industrial action among Lufthansa ground staff, the union is calling for a strike among the security forces at Frankfurt and Hamburg airports. The union said there would be an all-day strike at both airports on Thursday in people and goods screening, cargo screening and service areas.
Hamburg Airport announced that all 141 departures would be canceled or would take place without passengers. Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt is currently still assessing the consequences of the strike. In the five rounds of collective bargaining with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS), Verdi has so far failed to reach an agreement on higher wages for the industry’s approximately 25,000 employees nationwide. The talks are scheduled to continue on March 20th.
The industrial action among the security forces runs parallel to the strike among Lufthansa ground staff. Verdi had already called for a strike here on Thursday and Friday. On February 1st, a one-day strike by security staff largely paralyzed operations at eleven German airports. Around 200,000 passengers were affected.
Industrial disputes among aviation security personnel have a major impact, as checks on passengers, people, goods and cargo are usually canceled. A spokesman for Frankfurt airport operator Fraport said that departing passengers from outside might not be able to enter the airport on Thursday, as in the past. This is still being examined.
Verdi is demanding 2.80 euros more wages per hour
Verdi negotiator Wolfgang Pieper said that the employers had recently presented an improved but still inadequate offer. “We don’t get along like that.” This time they are only putting pinpricks, but an expansion of the strike measures cannot be ruled out.
The latest offer from employers provides for an increase in hourly wages in three steps – on March 1st by 1.20 euros, on October 1st by 0.75 euros and on April 1st, 2025 again by 0.75 euros – with one term of the collective agreement of 24 months. “That’s not enough,” said Pieper. In addition, the offer of overtime is not acceptable because the employers are asking employees to do more than 1.5 months of overtime without additional pay.
Verdi is demanding 2.80 euros more wages per hour, higher functional bonuses and overtime bonuses from the first overtime hour with a contract term of twelve months. “Our goal remains to permanently compensate for the employees’ loss of purchasing power,” emphasized Pieper.