German airports reach pay deal with security staff to end strikes

DPA
·1 min read
Aviation security staff demonstrate with flags from the service union Verdi in the departure hall in Terminal 1 at BER Airport. Major German union verdi and airport operators have reached a pay agreement covering some 25,000 security staff to avert further strike action. Carsten Koall/dpa
Aviation security staff demonstrate with flags from the service union Verdi in the departure hall in Terminal 1 at BER Airport. Major German union verdi and airport operators have reached a pay agreement covering some 25,000 security staff to avert further strike action. Carsten Koall/dpa

Major German union verdi and airport operators have reached a pay agreement covering some 25,000 security staff to avert further strike action as the busy summer travel season nears.

The two sides said on Monday that they had accepted a deal put forward by mediators.

Salary increases of between 13.1% and 15.1% were agreed in three stages over a period of 15 months, the employers' association BDLS said. The collective agreement is set to run until March 2025.

After six rounds of failed negotiations, a closed-door arbitration process was launched on Friday.

The agreement is still subject to the approval of the respective committees by midday Tuesday, although acceptance is seen as likely.

To finally secure a deal the particularly contentious issue of overtime bonuses was pushed back and will now be renegotiated at the end of this year. Until then, the previous agreements apply.

The labour dispute has resulted in strikes at some of Germany's biggest hubs and misery for tens of thousands of travellers as airport security staff walked off the job, most recently for two days last month.

German flag carrier Lufthansa is currently in wage talks with the union representing its cabin crew. The airline recently reached a pay deal with ground staff.