Security workers at Germany’s major airports went on strike Thursday, grounding flights and disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
The walkout, which affected 11 airports, including Frankfurt, Berlin, and Cologne, was in protest of low wages.
The Verdi union, which represents the workers, is demanding a 2.80 euro ($3.20) hourly wage increase for all security staff.
The strike forced the cancellation or delay of about 1,100 flights, affecting an estimated 200,000 passengers, according to the German Airports Association (ADV).
The strike also caused disruption in Austria, with the country’s civil aviation authority announcing the cancellation of direct flights between Frankfurt and Linz.
The authority said the strike was causing “significant disruptions” to air traffic between the two cities. It added that it was in talks with Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, about finding a solution, but that there were “complex technical challenges” to overcome.
The strike is the latest in a series of labor disputes to hit Germany in recent months.
In December, workers at Germany’s railway network went on strike for three days, causing widespread disruptions.
The strikes are a sign of rising labor tensions in Germany, as workers demand higher wages and better working conditions to cope with rising inflation.
