BERLIN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Hamburg Airport's security workers walked off their jobs on Wednesday due to a wage dispute, leading to the cancellation of over 100 flights.
Delays and cancellations left thousands of passengers stranded at the airport terminals waiting to pass the security checks, as the strike heavily affected fights of major airlines including Air Berlin and Lufthansa, local media reported.
The Verdi trade union and the employers of the workers failed to agree on a pay increase as security staff are demanding an hourly wage of 14.50 euros and better working conditions.
The union announced on Tuesday that the strike at the Hamburg airport would start from 3:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time (02:45 to 22:00 GMT).
As only one of the 20 security checks was opened, "waiting times at the passenger security checkpoints may exceed four hours," said the airport in a statement.
Hamburg airport called for passengers to contact their airlines before coming to the airport to check their flight status.
The personnel at the passenger security checkpoints, who were employed by a private security service provider subcontracted for the role by the Federal Police, had been asking for an hourly wage of 14.50 euros and better working conditions.
Currently, they were paid 11.80 euros per hour. The request, however, was rejected.
Strikes of about 600 security workers at Germany's airports last week caused massive delays and cancellations, affecting several thousand passengers. Another strike in Hamburg airport last month nearly paralyzed the air harbor, affecting about 19,000 passengers.
Employees run half-naked for not meeting sales quotas
Feedback
RSS
