UK travellers have been warned that a 24-hour transport strike is underway in Germany. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice for the country.
The strike is taking place today, March 27 and it’s impacting airports, ports, railways, buses and underground services. Brits are advised to keep up to date with the latest information with operators.
The FCO said: “On 27 March, Germany’s transportation network will be affected by a 24 hour strike affecting airports, ports, railways, buses and underground services. You should check the latest advice with operators before travelling.”
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Unions have called a one-day strike in a dispute over pay rises. They are seeking a pay increase of at least 10.5 per cent and have dismissed offers from employers of 5 per cent in two stages plus one-off payments.
The 24-hour walkout also affected cargo transport by rail and ship, as workers at the country’s ports and waterways joined the walkout. Many commuters opted to drive, causing delays on the roads, while those who could worked from home.
High inflation also seen elsewhere last year has hit many workers hard, said Ulrich Silberbach of the Civil Service Federation.
“We have recorded drops in real wages and these need to be balanced out,” he told reporters in Berlin, adding that some of his union’s members in larger cities are having to apply for state benefits to afford rent. Mr Silberbach said that he hoped employers would increase their offer in upcoming talks – otherwise, unions might have to consider an open-ended strike.
Rail company Deutsche Bahn called the union’s demands exaggerated and warned that millions of commuters would be affected. “Thousands of companies that normally send or receive their goods by rail will also suffer,” Deutsche Bahn spokesman Achim Strauss said.
“The environment and the climate will also suffer in the end. Today’s winners are the oil companies.”
Train tickets that could not be used because of the disruption will remain valid and travellers should check the company’s website for updates, he said. Labour strikes are a regular occurrence in Germany and normally end in a compromise deal between unions and employers.
The walkout already caused disruption and delays on Sunday, as travellers scrambled to reach their destinations early.
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