In response to the recent strike action initiated by the Ver.di union at German airports, the German Airports Association (ADV) is advocating for regulatory changes to mitigate the impact of widespread strikes.
The recent strikes impact eleven German airports, including Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich, and have led to significant disruptions. These strikes not only affect flight operations but also have broader economic implications, influencing business travel and supply chains across the affected regions.
Cancelled and delayed flights disrupt commercial activities, impacting businesses that rely on timely air travel. Logistics and supply chain operations also suffer, with delayed cargo deliveries causing ripple effects across multiple industries. Meanwhile, tourism-dependent businesses face losses as travel uncertainty discourages visitors.
In response to these developments, ADV has put forward several proposals aimed at reducing the disruption caused by industrial action in the aviation sector:
- Mandatory Advance Notice: Strikes in critical infrastructure should be announced well in advance, allowing businesses and travellers to prepare accordingly.
- Arbitration Before Strike Action: Industrial action should only be permitted after failed arbitration efforts, ensuring that all negotiation avenues have been exhausted.
- Emergency Service Agreements: Provisions should be made for maintaining essential airport operations during strikes to prevent complete shutdowns.
- Longer-Term Collective Agreements: Extending the duration of agreements could contribute to greater stability in working conditions and wage structures, potentially reducing the frequency of strikes.
While the right to strike is a fundamental aspect of labour negotiations, its impact on the mobility sector can be hugely detrimental. The ADV’s proposals seek to balance workers’ rights with the need to maintain essential services. By implementing measures such as extended arbitration and emergency agreements, the goal is to minimise economic disruptions while ensuring fair conditions for employees.
ADV General Manager Ralph Beisel said:It is essential that politicians take measures to better protect airports and other critical infrastructures from escalating strikes. The resilience and functionality of airports must be guaranteed.
Every effort must be made to find solutions in the negotiations and to minimise the impact on companies. In the event that no agreement is reached in the negotiation rounds or in arbitration, the ADV managing director calls for fair and proportionate industrial action with appropriate emergency service agreements. In addition, longer terms of collective agreements could help reduce the frequency of strikes by guaranteeing stable working conditions and wages for a longer period of time.
The impact of strikes in the mobility sector is always particularly high, which is why the union is happy to resort to this measure. That is why we are calling for better protection - in the interests of travelers and the economy alike.
