With prolonged strike action hitting air travel and public transport, here’s a look at what people travelling to, from and within Germany can expect in the coming weeks.
Thanks to pleasant weather, cultural events and public holidays, spring is one of the best times to be in Germany.
This year Easter Sunday falls on April 5th with two Feiertage either side on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
READ ALSO: How to maximise your public holidays like a German this spring
Many people have been making travel plans, whether they’re taking a city break, escaping to the sun for a few days or organising day trips with visitors.
But one thing may throw a spanner in the works: transport strikes.
How are strikes affecting life in Germany?
At the moment Germany is seeing a slew of strikes in the public service and transport sector.
On Wednesday March 18th, for instance, the trade union Verdi has called workers at Berlin’s BER airport out on strike, effectively cancelling all flights. Around 57,000 passengers are affected by the action.
READ ALSO: All Berlin flights on Wednesday cancelled due to strike
It follows other air travel walkouts, including strikes by Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew. The most recent two-day strike by pilots at Lufthansa on March 12th and March 13th caused hundreds of cancellations.
Possible strike action at Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings is also on the table. The the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) said talks on whether a walkout will happen are scheduled for March 25th.
Industrial action in the form of ‘warning strikes’ is a common negotiation tactic used by unions in Germany to put pressure on employers during collective bargaining periods.
Various unions are trying to negotiate improved pay and better working conditions for their members.
The next round of negotiations between the union and BER airport management is set for March 25th. No date has been set in the Lufthansa pilots’ dispute which centres on pensions.
What about local public transport?
Another issue is ongoing strikes shutting down local transport in different parts of Germany.
This week, public transport users across the country, including in North Rhine‑Westphalia, Saxony, Hamburg, Bavaria and Brandenburg, are finding it difficult to get around.
Verdi has been calling its members to down tools in a staggered timetable of strike action.
READ ALSO: Where transport strikes are expected in Germany this week
A nationwide public transport sector grounded buses, trams and the U-Bahn on February 27th and 28th.
None of this is encouraging for people travelling to, from or within Germany during the busy Easter spell.
Schools in Germany take a one or two week break at Easter, meaning many families will be travelling. Depending on the state, holidays fall between March 30th and April 10th this year.
However, it is worth noting that Deutsche Bahn is not affected by the current strikes so people can use the S-Bahn, regional trains and the ICE network during strike days.
The next round of negotiations for public transport are set to resume on March 24th.
READ ALSO: Is it still safe to travel to the Mediterranean from Germany
So will there be strikes at Easter?
At time of writing, it’s too early to know for certain is further strikes will take place over the Easter holiday. It could be that a deal is struck between unions and employers before the Easter period, which would rule out future strikes.
But as things stand, no agreement has been reached in any of the various disputes and there’s no mention of an ‘Easter truce’ where industrial action is put on hold. That means disruption is possible.
Warning strikes are usually called one to two days before they start, meaning that anyone with travel plans should keep an eye on the situation in the next two weeks. The Local will report on all upcoming strikes.
If a flight is cancelled, the airline should rebook you or refund you and provide accommodation in a hotel if necessary. However, airlines are not usually obligated to pay compensation as they can cite extraordinary circumstances when strikes are ongoing.
READ ALSO: What are your rights in Germany if your flight is delayed or cancelled?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
