According to ver.di, warning strikes started again on Thursday morning in the tariff conflict between aviation security forces at German airports. Airports in Baden-Württemberg are also affected.
The wave of strikes at German airports is not slowing down. According to the ver.di union, aviation security forces have been carrying out warning strikes at several airports in Germany since early Thursday morning – including in Baden-Württemberg. According to estimates by the airport association ADV, more than 580 flight connections nationwide have been canceled and 90,000 travelers had to reschedule.
The all-day strike on Thursday affects, among others, the airports Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden. The union had called on employees in passenger screening, people and goods screening, cargo screening and service areas to stop work.
No departures at Stuttgart Airport
There will be no departures at Stuttgart Airport on Thursday, as the operators announced on Tuesday evening. Due to warning strikes at other airports in Germany, delays or cancellations are also possible for arrivals.
The airport company asked passengers to check the status of their flight and contact their airline or tour operator. According to the information, 159 takeoffs and landings were originally planned for Thursday.
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All departures from Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden canceled
At Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, all six departures planned for Thursday were canceled. Some flights were being diverted, it was said. According to ver.di, passenger controllers in Karlsruhe are also called on strike on Friday.
The airport in Friedrichshafen (Bodenseekreis) has its own collective agreement due to insolvency proceedings a few years ago and is not affected by the current strikes.
Many canceled flights during the first wave of warning strikes
Aviation security collective bargaining concerns the working conditions of around 25,000 employees of private security service providers. On behalf of the Federal Police, they check passengers, staff and luggage at the entrances to the security area. According to estimates by the airport association ADV, around 1,100 flights were canceled during the first wave of warning strikes on February 1st at eleven major airports. For Thursday and Friday, the ADV expects 580 flights to be canceled, which will affect around 90,000 travelers nationwide.
So far, five rounds of negotiations in the collective bargaining dispute have failed to produce any results. ver.di is calling for an hourly wage increase of 2.80 euros over a period of twelve months with overtime bonuses starting more quickly from the first hour of overtime.
Next hearing on March 20th
According to their own information, the employers from the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) have offered 2.70 euros in three stages with a term of 24 months. In addition to compensating for inflation, this also means an increase in real wages, explained BDLS negotiator Frank Haindl. A sixth hearing is scheduled for March 20th.
With a view to the next round of negotiations, ver.di announced on Tuesday that the employer must “finally submit a significantly improved offer that can be agreed upon”. In this way the strikes could still be averted. The last offer presented was improved, but “still inadequate”.
This is currently just one of several tariff disputes in air traffic in Germany. Most of them concern Lufthansa and its passengers. Among other things, the conflict with ver.di among Lufthansa ground staff and with the flight attendant union UFO among cabin crew remains unresolved.