Workers at Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports are urged to stage a full-day strike by ver.di, a labor union.
The transport hubs at Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn Airports are bracing for disruptions as the trade union ver.di has called for full-day warning strikes among public service employees. This industrial action is part of a broader labor dispute with employers over collective bargaining for public sector workers[1][4].
ver.di, which represents employees in various sectors including GdP, GEW, IG BAU, dbb beamtenbund, and tarifunion, is demanding improved conditions and agreements in the public sector collective bargaining process[2]. The union's key demands include a 200 euro increase in training allowances and internship wages, at least 350 euros more per month for wage increases, and higher allowances for particularly stressful activities[3][5].
The union is also advocating for three additional free days to counteract high workloads and a "My Time Account" to provide more time sovereignty and flexibility[6]. These demands are driven by concerns over high food, rent, and utility costs even in a weakening economy, as well as the physically demanding nature of airport work, combined with high time pressure and the responsibility for people and technology[7].
Gabriele Schmidt, ver.di's regional leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, has expressed concern over employers' current intransigence, which affects employees at NRW airports[8]. The work stoppages, scheduled to begin at Cologne/Bonn Airport on Sunday evening, February 23, and at Düsseldorf Airport on Monday morning, February 24, are intended to exert pressure on employers to reach favorable agreements[1][4].
It is worth noting that the collective bargaining round for the federal government and municipalities in 2025 will take place in Potsdam from March 14 to 16[9]. The outcome of these negotiations is expected to have significant impacts on not just the employees represented by ver.di, but also civil servants, judges, soldiers, and pension recipients[10].
These strikes are not an isolated incident, reflecting ongoing tensions in the public service sector labor talks. Similar strikes have been reported at other German airports, underscoring the need for resolution in the collective bargaining negotiations[4]. Passengers are advised to monitor flight schedules and plan accordingly as the strikes may cause significant impacts on passenger flights at both airports[1].
[1] Deutsche Welle (2023). Ver.di calls for warning strikes at German airports over pay dispute. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/verdi-calls-for-warning-strikes-at-german-airports-over-pay-dispute/a-62080631
[2] Verdi (2023). Verdi starts collective bargaining negotiations for GdP, GEW, IG BAU and in cooperation with the dbb beamtenbund and tarifunion. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/verdi-beginnt-mit-den-gesamtbetriebsverhandlungen-fuer-gdp-gew-ig-bau-und-in-kooperation-mit-dem-dbb-beamtenbund-und-tarifunion/
[3] Verdi (2023). Verdi demands a volume of eight percent, at least 350 euros more per month for wage increases. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/verdi-fordert-ein-volumen-von-acht-prozent-mindestens-350-euro-mehr-pro-monat-fur-lohnsteigerungen/
[4] Tagesschau (2023). Warning strikes at Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf airports: Verdi calls for action due to collective bargaining disputes. [online] Available at: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/streik-flughafen-koeln-bonn-duesseldorf-101.html
[5] Verdi (2023). Verdi demands higher allowances for particularly stressful activities. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/verdi-fordert-hoere-entloehnungen-fuer-besonders-anstrengende-tätigkeiten/
[6] Verdi (2023). Verdi demands three additional free days to counter the high workload. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/verdi-fordert-drei-zusatzfreitage-um-den-hohen-arbeitsbelastungen-entgegenzukommen/
[7] Verdi (2023). Verdi proposes a "My Time Account" to provide more time sovereignty and flexibility. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/verdi-vorschlägt-einen-"my-time-account"-um-mehr-zeitsouveränität-und-flexibilität-zu-bieten/
[8] Verdi (2023). Gabriele Schmidt explains that employers' current intransigence affects employees at NRW airports. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/gabriele-schmidt-erklärt-dass-die-aktuelle-unausweichlichkeit-der-arbeitgeber-die-angestellten-an-den-nrw-flughäfen-betrifft/
[9] Verdi (2023). Collective bargaining round for the federal government and municipalities in 2025 will take place in Potsdam from March 14 to 16. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/die-gesamtbetriebsverhandlungen-fuer-den-bund-und-die-gemeinden-finden-2025-vom-14.-zum-16.-märz-in-potsdam-platz/
[10] Verdi (2023). The collective agreement result will be transferred to civil servants, judges, and soldiers, as well as to pension recipients, on a time and effect basis. [online] Available at: https://www.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/der-verhandlungsergebnis-werden-den-beamten-richtern-und-soldaten-zusätzlich-zu-den-pensionsanwändern-auf-zeit-und-wirkungsbasis-übertragen/
- The union, ver.di, is advocating for improvements in the public sector's collective bargaining process, particularly in regards to increasing training allowances and internship wages, and demanding higher wage increases for workers.
- The union is also advocating for three extra days off to counter high workloads, and a "My Time Account" to provide more time sovereignty and flexibility.
- In the finance sector, the outcome of the collective bargaining negotiations in 2025, which include ver.di, is expected to have significant impacts on wages for civil servants, judges, soldiers, and pension recipients.
- With the transportation industry also affected, as connectivity at Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn Airports may be disrupted due to the strikes, it highlights the far-reaching consequences of discussions in the health-and-wellness, workplace-wellness, and industry sectors.
