Berlin Airport Strike Again! Wednesday Flights in Chaos, Mass Cancellations and Delays, Is Your Trip Going to Fall Through?

(Source: DOLC)

Berlin Airport will experience widespread flight cancellations and delays, as ver.di calls for a warning strike among BER airport staff.

The union ver.di plans to initiate a strike at the capital airport. In the union’s view, the employer’s proposed salary plan is “a provocation at the negotiation table.” Flight cancellations and delays are likely unavoidable. Travelers at Berlin BER Airport on Wednesday should be prepared for significant restrictions. ver.di has called for a full-day warning strike among employees. The background of this action is a deadlock in collective bargaining between labor and management. ver.di accuses the airport operator of adopting an obstructive attitude and has rejected the latest proposal from the employer. Flight cancellations and delays are expected. According to ver.di, the employer proposed a phased salary increase in the second round of negotiations, with the contract lasting until the end of 2028. Under this plan, wages would remain unchanged until June this year; from July 2026, wages would increase by 1%; from July 2027, another 1.5%; and from May 2028, a further 1%. “This is not a serious offer at all, but a provocation at the negotiation table,” said ver.di negotiator Holger Leßler. Overall, this plan amounts to an average annual wage increase of only about 1%. Considering inflation, this effectively means employees will suffer a significant real income reduction. The union also stated that this strike is a direct result of the employer’s refusal to submit a proposal with a basis for negotiations. “BER airport staff maintain airport operations every day. They deserve respect and a collective agreement that reflects their labor value,” Leßler said. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 25. ver.di hopes that the employer will present a significantly improved proposal at that time.