Millions of transport workers strike Germany in biggest strike in decades

Millions of travelers across Germany are seeing their means of transportation disrupted as a result of the country’s biggest strike in decades. Thus, airports, train and bus stations have been paralyzed this Monday morning in demand for salary increases with which to combat strong inflation.

The strikes of 24 hours summoned in Germany by the trade union Verdithe largest in the country in the service sector, and the union of railways and transport EVGThey are the latest in a series of strikes that have hit major European economies as food and energy prices rise They have made a dent in the standard of living.

Two of the largest airports in the country, Munich and Frankfurtsuspended their flights, while the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn DBN.UL canceled long-distance rail services.

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The Verdi union negotiates on behalf of some 2.5 million employees public sector, including public transport and airports, while the rail and transport union EVG negotiates on behalf of some 230,000 employees of the rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the bus companies.

Frank Werneke, head of the Verdi union, assured that it is about biggest strike in decadesand said that the labor action was a matter of survival for millions of workers amid high inflation, according to the daily Bild am Sonntag.

Consumer prices in Germany rose more than expected in February (9.3% compared to the previous year) due to cost pressurewhich the European Central Bank has tried to control with a series of interest rate hikes.

EVG Chairman Martin Burkert told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Monday that the employer had not yet made a viable offer and warned of the possibility of new warning strikes, even during the upcoming holidays from Easter week.

On Sunday, Deutsche Bahn declared that the strike was “completely excessive, unfounded and unnecessary”and employers warn that the increase in the wages of transport workers would translate into a rate increase and taxes to make up the difference.