GERMANY-AIRPORT/STRIKE Security staff strike causes delays, cancellations at Stuttgart airport

Record ID: 341972

  • Title: GERMANY-AIRPORT/STRIKE Security staff strike causes delays, cancellations at Stuttgart airport
  • Date: 9th February 2015
  • Summary: STUTTGART, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 9, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS QUEUING IN AIRPORT DEPARTURE LOUNGE TRAVELLERS QUEUING IN FRONT OF FLIGHT DEPARTURE ELECTRONIC BOARD FLIGHT DEPARTURE ELECTRONIC BOARD DISPLAYING FLIGHT DELAYS, AND READING (German): "DUE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY THE AIRPORT SECURITY PERSONNEL, WE KINDLY ASK ALL PASSENGERS TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SECURITY CHECKS ON TIME" PASSENGERS QUEUING FLIGHT DEPARTURE ELECTRONIC BOARD DISPLAYING DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS DETAIL OF ELECTRONIC BOARD SHOWING FLIGHT CANCELLATION SIGN FOR TERMINAL 1 SECURITY CHECK LOUNGE ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, THOMAS STEPHAN, SAYING: "I don't think it is good to strike while there are ongoing negotiations talks. If negotiations are underway, then it should not happen like this. It's a bit difficult when one has connecting flights." VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS GOING THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, HEIDEROSE LUTZ, SAYING: "It is right that the (airport security) staff is fighting for higher wages, but it's not so much fun for those who suffer (the consequences of the strike)." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, ALBERT NAGEL, SAYING: "Well, one can also understand that people want to earn a little more, especially after it (the airport security check) has been privatised and wages are correspondingly low." PASSENGERS QUEUING PASSENGERS GOING THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS PASSENGERS QUEUING OUTSIDE SECURITY CHECKS LOUNGE ENTRANCE AIRPORT SECURITY STAFF HOLDING FLAGS AND BANNERS WALKING THROUGH AIRPORT TERMINAL VARIOUS OF AIRPORT SECURITY STAFF HOLDING VERDI TRADE UNION FLAGS MARCHING THROUGH AIRPORT TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (German) VERDI TRADE UNION NEGOTIATOR, EVA SCHMIDT, SAYING: "We want the employer to return to the negotiating table, because I think we can reach a deal on the negotiating table, because otherwise we will be forced to continue to strike, which is something we really don't want to do, if it can be avoided." AIRPORT SECURITY STAFF MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (German) STRIKING AIRPORT SECURITY STAFF, SALVATORE BUGIO, SAYING: "Since we guarantee safety, we want to be paid (adequately) as a recognition of what we do." (SOUNDBITE) (German) STRIKING AIRPORT SECURITY STAFF, ANDREAS PAUL, SAYING: "It (the wage) should be at least ten euros, or even more. Then you can finally live on it. As it is now, it's not good at all." AIRCRAFT PARKED ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS QUEUING AT DEPARTURE TERMINAL
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5FQNYZITSBY1EALYTL3Y9ULY6
  • Story Text: Hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours as flight delays and cancellations continued after stalled wage negotiations brought Stuttgart airport to a standstill on Monday (February 9).
    A 24-hour security staff strike called by Germany's trade union Verdi in three federal states led to long queues at the airport's departure lounge and in front of the entrance to security checks, with many passengers expressing frustration for the protracted waiting times.
    "I don't think it is good to strike while there are ongoing negotiations talks. If negotiations are underway, then it should not happen like this. It's a bit difficult when one has connecting flights," passenger Thomas Stephan said.
    "It is right, that the (airport security) staff is fighting for higher wages, however it is not so pleasing for those who suffer (the consequences of the strike)," said another passenger Heiderose Lutz.
    Stuttgart airport said on its website passengers should expect waiting times of between 1.5-2 hours for security checks.
    "Well, one can also understand that people want to earn a little more, especially after it (the airport security check) has been privatised and wages are correspondingly low," another air traveller, Albert Nagel, said.
    While passengers queued, airport security staff marched through Stuttgart's terminals, holding Verdi flags.
    Trade union negotiator Eva Schmidt said although the strike wasn't the ideal situation for security checks staff, it was needed to put further pressure as pay rise talks continued.
    "We want the employer to return to the negotiating table, because I think we can reach a deal on the negotiating table, because otherwise we will be forced to continue to strike, which is something we really don't want to do, if it can be avoided," Schmidt said.
    Other striking staff said their current wage was inadequate.
    "Since we guarantee safety, we want to be paid (adequately) as a recognition of what we do," security checks worker Salvatore Bugio said.
    "It (the wage) should be at least ten euros, or even more. Then you can finally live on it. As it is now, it's not good at all," another airport worker, Andreas Paul, added.
    Meanwhile, Hamburg airport temporarily shut its terminal building, after police closed the doors for two hours after queues of up to five hours for security checks built up.
    Airlines have cancelled over 100 flights at Hamburg, which would usually handle just over 400 flights on Monday.
    Germany's largest airline Lufthansa has cancelled 18 domestic flights between Hamburg and its main hubs of Frankfurt and Munich due to the strikes.
    Hanover airport said there were no delays.
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