Mass Strikes Begin in Germany 0 10

Mass strikes have been announced in Germany. All flights from Berlin have been canceled. Public transport will be paralyzed in four states, reports Deutsche Welle.

The Verdi union has called for transport workers across the country to strike after another unsuccessful round of negotiations with employers.

On March 18, employees at Berlin Brandenburg Airport will strike. As a result, 445 flights have been canceled, affecting around 57,000 passengers. They are advised to contact their airlines for rebooking and to explore alternative travel options. The union demands a 6% wage increase (and at least 250 euros per month), which the airport management has refused.

On March 17 and 19, trams will not operate in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the number of buses will be significantly reduced. Public transport in this state will be virtually paralyzed, writes Tagesschau. "We are calling for strikes precisely where negotiations have reached a deadlock - and in North Rhine-Westphalia, this is clearly the case," says Hein Rech, representing Verdi in this state.

On March 17, five transport companies in Saxony also began striking. At least one of them announced the introduction of an emergency schedule to ensure, among other things, the transportation of schoolchildren.

In Hamburg, buses and U-Bahn trains will not operate for exactly 24 hours starting from 03:00 on March 18. A strike by public transport workers is also planned for the same day in nine cities in Bavaria, including Munich and Nuremberg. "We see absolutely no movement from the employers," stated the deputy head of Verdi Bavaria, Sinan Ozturk.