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Airport strikes in Germany

December 10, 2012

Workers at airports in Germany declared a short strike after wage negotiations stalled. The stoppage caused flight delays and cancellations across the country.

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An airbus A380 at the Frankfurt Airport. dpa - Bildfunk+++
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Security workers went on strike Monday at 10 airports across Germany. The strikes started in the early morning and went until midday.

The work stoppage was called by the service union ver.di after negotiations on a general wage contract stalled.

Personnel responsible for baggage and passenger checks went on strike at the Frankfurt, Baden-Baden/Karlsruhe, Berlin-Tegel, Berlin Schönefeld, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart airports.

Ver.di said the strike involved approximately 1,000 airport staff. Spokesman Jürgen Stahl said 100 people went on strike at each of the Berlin airports. Fourteen flights at Tegel were cancelled, though it is not clear if every canceled flight was due to the strike or weather.

Frankfurt airport, Germany's largest, was not significantly affected, a spokesman told the DPA news agency.

Ver.di is demanding regular working schedules, indefinite terms of employment and fair wages. The union represents some 15,000 security personnel at German airports.

The German national security association and ver.di could not reach a wage agreement after negotiations failed last month.

"Once again the employers did not respond to our request for a comprehensive package, but instead put on a filibuster," said Andreas Sander a ver.di representative.

Talks are expected to resume January 15.

dr/sej (dpa, dapd, Reuters)