The head of the Verdi labor union in Germany, Frank Werneke, announced that the major strike scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, is a "matter of life or death" for thousands of people fighting for higher wages amid rising inflation. In an interview published by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, he stated, "Not only are people receiving low salaries, but they are also working beyond their capacity in a desperate manner."
The strike has already begun at Munich Airport today, Sunday, where the departure board showed many canceled flights. The German railway company, Deutsche Bahn, condemned the strike plans and called for workers to return to the negotiating table.
This strike, the largest in Germany for decades, is expected to cause significant disruptions to railway services and airports. The Verdi union is negotiating on behalf of 2.5 million public sector employees, including those working in public transportation and airports. The EVG union for railway and transport workers is negotiating on behalf of 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn and bus companies.
Verdi is demanding a 10.5% wage increase, which translates to at least a €500 monthly raise, while EVG is seeking a 12% increase or a €650 monthly raise.
