No flights left Frankfurt airport yesterday, that is, 10 March 2025, while delays and cancellations are expected today, too, that is, 11 March, 2025 because of a nationwide strike in German. Verdi, the German trade union is demanding an eight per cent hike in wages or a minimum hike of 350 euros ($380) per month, along with higher bonuses and three additional days of leave. However, the employers, including local authorities and the government have not given in to the demands of the workers calling them far from affordable and impractical. Negotiations are still going on.
Verdi is seeking a collective salary deal for almost 2.5 million public- sector employees, including ground workers, service staff and aviation security personnel. Healthcare workers have also expressed their support to the strike, with about 20,000 of them walking out on 6 March and many workers from kindergartens going on strike on 7 March, 2025.
With over five lakh travelers affected, the strike did bring the nation to a halt, as appears to have been the intention of Verdi, which wanted the strike to draw attention to workers’ issues.
Strikes are expected to take place in various government-operated facilities and local bodies this week. Friday will witness another round of discussions and negotiations after the last one failed. Formal discussions are scheduled for 14, 15 and 16 March 2025, in Berlin.
