Strikes in Germany

Transport Minister Warns of 'Disastrous Consequences'

With German union GdF slated to expand its strike on Wednesday at Frankfurt Airport, Europe's third largest, air transport could be massively disrupted in Germany and possibly globally. The airport's operator and German flag carrier Lufthansa say they will seek a court injunction to stop the strike.

der Spiegel,

28 February, 2012

German aviation union GdF has said it will expand its intermittent strike actions at Frankfurt Airport on Wednesday. Around 200 ground workers have already been striking in recent days at the airport, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Now, the union has asked air traffic controllers in the tower to join them in solidarity on Wednesday between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. local time. German airline Lufthansa and the airport's operator said they would seek a court injunction against the strike expansion.

With the air traffic controllers' solidarity strike, the union is seeking to increase pressure by causing the cancellation of hundreds more flights at Germany's most important airport. "The step is meant to show solidarity with the GdF members in the struggle against Fraport," the union said in a statement, referring to the company that operates Frankfurt Airport.

However, German Transportation Minister Peter Ramsauer has warned that an expansion of the strike to the control tower could lead to "disastrous consequences" for air traffic -- and not only within Germany, but also around the world.

The strike began with around 200 ground workers who manage taxiways and the so-called "apron" (the paved area next to the terminal and hangars) walking off the job. They are responsible, in part, for guiding planes to their final park position. Airport officials claim the union is demanding large wage increases running as high as 50 to 70 percent and shorter working hours. Negotiations between Frankfurt Airport and the GdF union collapsed on Friday.

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