More Than 40,000 Passengers Stranded at Germany’s Hamburg Airport As Several Flights Cancelled After Strike- wna24

Berlin: Day before a planned nationwide protest, flight cancellations at Hamburg Airport due to a surprise strike which affected over 40,000 passengers.

The airport reported that only 10 of over 280 scheduled flights operated as planned on Sunday morning. Service desks were empty, with passengers lining up for information. The large electronic departure board displayed “canceled” in red next to all flights.

The union, representing workers in areas such as passenger services and cargo screening, called for Sunday’s strike by security control staff to apply pressure during ongoing collective bargaining talks. The walkout, which took place with just half an hour’s notice, caused significant disruptions at Hamburg Airport.

This surprise strike was a precursor to a larger series of planned strikes set for Monday across 13 airports in Germany, organized by the ver.di union as part of their ongoing labor dispute.

Airport spokesperson Katja Bromm criticized the trade union ver.di, calling their strike without notice “dishonorable” and pointing out that it disrupted Hamburg Airport at the start of the vacation season. 

She added that while arrivals would be possible on Monday, “considerable disruptions and cancellations” were expected.

Bromm said that Sunday’s walkouts were “excessive and unfair to tens of thousands of travelers who have nothing to do with the disputes.”

For months, ver.di has been negotiating a new agreement that aims to improve occupational health and safety, provide more vacation days, an increase in the annual bonus to 50% and the freedom to choose a doctor for employees’ regular, mandatory medical exams, among other things.

Lars Stubbe, a trade union official, said that “a strike must cause economic damage.”

“We know that it is a massive burden for passengers. Our colleagues know that too. But they have said we have to go on strike. It must be effective, so that we have a reasonable offer to negotiate,” he said.

Some would-be passengers didn’t hide their frustration.

“I also wonder why it’s like this, because it was supposed to be a big strike tomorrow (Monday) — and why is it today?” said Alva Wetzel, who had hoped to travel. “It’s just stupid.”