German public transportation is halted due to a strike
Due to a strike by two of the biggest unions in Germany, the country’s transportation system will be almost completely shut down on Monday.
Just after midnight, employees at airports, ports, railroads, buses, and subways went on strike for a full day.
To help their members deal with the nation’s rising cost of living, unions are requesting higher compensation.
Although there have been other smaller walkouts by other public service sectors, the one on Monday will be the biggest in the nation in decades.
The two unions that are taking part in the strike are some of the biggest in Germany.
Almost 2.5 million public sector workers, including those working in airports and public transportation, are represented by Verdi.
EVG is a union that represents over 230,000 people who work for bus companies and the national rail company of Germany, Deutsche Bahn.
Prior to another round of pay discussions on Monday, they hope it will put further pressure on businesses.
According to local media, Frank Werneke, the chief of Verdi, characterized the pay increase as “a issue of survival for many thousands of people.
He said that the workers were utterly overworked in addition to being underpaid.
While the second union involved, EVG, wants a 12% pay increase, Verdi hopes to secure a 10.5% pay increase for employees.
The plans were denounced and labeled “totally excessive, groundless, and useless” by Deutsche Bahn, the country’s main rail operator.
The walkout on Sunday at Munich Airport resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights.
About 380,000 passengers will be impacted by the walkout, according to Germany’s airport association, but it was described as “beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure.”
The unions are making unrealistic demands, according to some corporate representatives, and this could alienate the people.
Yet, some unions have been successful in securing wage increases, such as the 11.5% pay raise that postal workers received in early March.
