Demand for a major work stoppage at multiple German airports on Monday by Ver.di organization
Planned Strikes Rock German Airports
Gear up, travelers! Things are about to get turbulent at several German airports. On Monday, March 10, staff at airports in Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Weeze, Dortmund, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, and Munich might call in sick or stage protests, causing potential chaos.
The United Services Trade Union (ver.di) is pulling out all the stops, urging employees in the aviation security sector to participate in full-day warning strikes. These strike actions aim to ramp up pressure on employers at the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) to enhance working conditions for around 25,000 aviation security personnel. Beginning Sunday night, March 9, 2025, and lasting till Monday night, March 10, 2025, these strikes intend to create a huge ruckus for the employers.
Strikes are also planned at some airports on March 10, as part of the public sector wage negotiations between the federal government and municipalities. Both sets of wage disputes stand independently from each other.
For months, ver.di has been haggling with BDLS to roll out a new collective agreement, last updated in 2013, that aims to uplift the working conditions of aviation security specialists. The union is putting forth demands such as:
- Work and health protection enhancements.
- 30 days of vacation and additional time off for shift workers.
- An increase in the annual bonus to 50 percent.
- Free choice of a trusted doctor for mandatory fitness exams, rather than employers making the decision.
- Limitations on the length of fixed-term employment.
- Overtime compensation for hours beyond the 181st or 249th, whichever comes first.
The last round of negotiations, held on February 25/26, ended in a stalemate. Employers stated they had reached their fiscal limits and suggested that employees would have to bear the costs or further negotiations could not proceed. Despite intense discussions, ver.di couldn't find a solution.
"Employers are unwilling to meet demands for 30 days of vacation and time off for shift workers. Moreover, they are dismissive of our demands for pay increases and trusted doctors for mandatory fitness exams, which could potentially lead to losing jobs," said Wolfgang Pieper, ver.di’s chief negotiator. "With these warning strikes on Monday, employees will demonstrate their commitment to improving working conditions." The employers are urged to engage constructively in negotiations to prevent further strikes and resolve the wage dispute ahead of Easter.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 26/27.
Insight: The German trade union ver.di finds itself at odds with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) over improving wages and working conditions for aviation security specialists[1]. These workers perform vital safety checks at airports, and the union's activities demonstrate their willingness to escalate through strikes and coordinated protests to secure a favorable collective agreement for these employees[1]. Critical demands include higher wages and improved working conditions, with the negotiations between ver.di and employers ongoing[1]. If the demands remain unmet, ver.di may intensify strike actions to make their demands heard.
Finance and aerospace industries could face significant disruptions due to the planned strikes at German airports. The United Services Trade Union (ver.di) is exerting pressure on employers in the aviation security sector, seeking enhancements in working conditions for around 25,000 aviation security personnel. These demands include work and health protection improvements, better vacation and time off policies, increased annual bonuses, free choice of trusted doctors for mandatory fitness exams, limitations on fixed-term employment, and overtime compensation.
