Germany: Transport Workers To Go On Strike For Higher Wages

• The strike is to last for 24hours

• The two unions involved in the strike are among the largest in Germany.

• The two unions are Verdi and EVG

Eko Hot Blog reports that Germany’s transport network will be at a near standstill on Monday as two of the country’s largest unions strike.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Saudi Arabia:US Man Jailed Over Tweets Released

• US: Police On High Alert Ahead Of Possible Donald Trump Arrest

• Bad Bunny’s Ex Sues Him For Using Her Recording Without Permission

Staff at airports, ports, railways, buses and subways walked out shortly after midnight for a 24-hour stoppage.

Unions are demanding higher wages to help their members cope with the rising cost of living across the country.

There have been multiple smaller walkouts by other public service sectors, but Monday’s will be the largest in decades in the country.

The two unions involved in the strike are among the largest in Germany.

Verdi represents around 2.5 million employees across the public sector including in public transport and at airports.

EVG represents around 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn – Germany’s national rail operator, and other bus companies.

They hope it will increase pressure on employers ahead of another round of pay negotiations on Monday.

Frank Werneke, the chief of Verdi described the pay rise as “a matter of survival for many thousands of employees, according to local media.

“The people are not only underpaid, they are hopelessly overworked,” he said.

Verdi wants to secure a 10.5% pay rise for staff, while the other union involved, EVG, wants a 12% raise.

Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, condemned the plans and described it as “completely excessive, groundless and unnecessary”.

At Munich Airport on Sunday, multiple flights were disrupted by the walkout.

Germany’s airport association said about 380,000 air travellers would be affected by the strike but added that it was “beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure”.

Some employer representatives warn the unions are making unreasonable demands which risk alienating the public.

FURTHER READING

• Weekly Gist With Annie

• Three Men Found Guilty Of Murdering XXXTentacion In 2018

• US: DeSantis Takes Heavy Dig At Trump Over Court Case

However, some unions have succeeded in winning wage increases, including postal workers who won an 11.5% pay rise in early march.

Source: BBC

Click to watch our video of the week:

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611