A surprise strike at Hamburg Airport on Sunday led to the cancellation of numerous flights, impacting over 40,000 passengers just one day before planned protests across Germany tied to ongoing contract negotiations.
Out of more than 280 scheduled flights, only 10 were able to depart as planned early in the day, according to the airport. Many service desks were unattended, leaving frustrated passengers waiting for information as a large electronic board displayed the word “canceled” next to almost every flight. The walkout, which was reportedly only announced about 30 minutes in advance, occurred ahead of a planned series of strikes on Monday across 13 airports in Germany. These protests, organized by the ver.di union, are part of collective bargaining talks. The union represents workers in various sectors, including passenger services and security, who are striking to pressure companies during negotiations.
Katja Bromm, a spokesperson for Hamburg Airport, criticized the ver.di union’s actions, calling the sudden strike “dishonorable.” She pointed out that the walkout, which took place just as the vacation season began, had a significant impact on the airport. Bromm added that while arrivals would still be possible on Monday, passengers should expect “significant disruptions and cancellations.”
Bromm expressed that Sunday’s walkout was “excessive and unfair,” affecting tens of thousands of travelers who were not involved in the ongoing disputes.
For months, the ver.di union has been negotiating a new agreement aimed at improving occupational health and safety, increasing vacation days, boosting the annual bonus to 50%, and granting employees the ability to choose their own doctors for mandatory medical exams.
Lars Stubbe, a union official, defended the strike, stating, “A strike must cause economic damage.” He acknowledged the burden it placed on passengers but emphasized that the union felt it was necessary to continue the strike to secure a reasonable offer in the negotiations.
Some passengers expressed frustration with the timing of the strike. “I don’t understand why it happened today when there was already a big strike planned for tomorrow,” said Alva Wetzel, who had hoped to travel. “It’s just frustrating.”
