Germany's trade unions plan mass transport strikes for next week

The trade unions EVG and Verdi on March 23 announced the joint industrial action, which comes after numerous previous strikes that have hit all parts of the German economy in recent months, Daily Sabah reports. 

"There will be severe delays and even disruption of transport services in all the affected areas across the country," the unions said.

Verdi's leader, Frank Werneke, vowed on March 23 that the strikes will have "a massive effect" on the country. 

Verdi called on its members in seven German states to walk out from airports and from their jobs in local public transport.

The Verdi and EVG trade unions predicted the strike would shutter some motorway tunnels, disrupt long-distance and regional rail services, paralyse local public transit in several German states and disrupt maritime shipping at ports and on waterways.

As many as 380,000 airline travelers "will not be able to take their flights" because of the planned strikes, the German airport association ADV warned. The union has called on workers at all German airports except Berlin to walk off the job.

Workers at many locks on important waterways plan to strike as well, Verdi's deputy federal chairperson, Christine Behle, said on March 23. So will workers at the port in Hamburg, the country's largest. A strike by some workers in Hamburg had already closed the port to larger container vessels on March 23. 

The strike is intended to increase the pressure on the government and local authorities for a third round of negotiations starting on March 27.

The Verdi union is demanding a 10.5 per cent pay rise and at least 500 euros more per month for public sector workers.

German national rail service Deutsche Bahn warned of "massive impairments" for its railway operations because of the looming strike. Other rail companies are also expected to be affected.

Deutsche Bahn said it is preparing steps to assist passengers and that more details would follow.

ADV, the airport association, denounced the unions' calls as a "strike escalation based on the French model" and said it has damaged Germany's image among global air travelers.

The unions are departing from "the tried and tested tradition that solutions are achieved at the negotiating table in Germany," ADV general manager Ralph Beisel said on March 23.

Deutsche Bahn called the strike "groundless and unnecessary" and sharply criticised railway and transit union EVG.

"Our employees and passengers now need a quick solution, not a big strike," Deutsche Bahn HR director Martin Seiler said.