Anxious air passengers relieved to see the volcanic ash no longer threatening their schedule could be held up from next week by striking ground personnel at Berlin’s airports.
Union officials warned that the action planned by the 1,750 or so workers who provide airport services including luggage handling at Tegel and Schönefeld, could result in delays and cancellations.
Negotiations for a joint agreement for those working for airport service providerGlobeground Berlin (GGB) and Ground Service International (GSI) have failed, said Andreas Splanemann, spokesman for service union ver.di.
He said the roughly 450 workers employed by GSI deserved a fixed payment rate, while the worst paid should see their pay increase by as much as €150 a month. Many are paid so poorly that they claim Hartz IV social support to supplement their wages, he said.
Those at the bottom of the pay scale should see a pay rise of 3.8 percent said Splanemann, while those earning more have already been offered a wage rate guarantee.
Strikes would be announced between six and 24 hours in advance, he added.
Globeground has said it would work with airlines and the airport managers to try to keep the impact on passengers as minimal as possible.
The last such strike was in 2007, when a walk-out of several hours by around 300 ground staff resulted in delayed flights.
