One of the most momentous warning strikes in recent years has begun at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER).
A Verdi spokesman confirmed this early on Wednesday morning.
The union called on the 6,000 workers in the airport company, ground handling services and aviation security to stop work by 11:59 p.m.
As a result, no passenger traffic can be processed at BER on Wednesday.
Originally planned were 300 take-offs and landings with about 35,000 passengers.
Verdi demands 500 euros more wages per month for the employees of the airport company and the ground handling services with a term of the collective agreement of twelve months.
In both negotiations, the employer side is demanding significantly longer contract periods.
The last major warning strike with similar consequences was several years ago: In April 2018, hundreds of flights across Germany had to be canceled because collective bargaining for municipal and federal employees was not progressing.
In eight federal states, tens of thousands of employees stopped work during a warning strike.
In addition to airports, urban transport, daycare centers, clinics, administrations and indoor swimming pools were also affected in many places.
Airports were involved at the time, because even after privatization, numerous municipal employees still worked in baggage and identity checks, among other things.