Germany: massive strike in transport in a context of record inflation

View of a table of departures inside Munich airport during a strike called by the German union Verdi over a wage dispute, in Munich, Germany, March 26, 2023. REUTERS - LUKAS BARTH

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Trains and planes at a standstill, subways and buses in the depots... The Germans have been facing since Sunday evening, March 26, a mega-strike, orchestrated by the unions in a context of record inflation.

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With our correspondent in Berlin, Nathalie Versieux

Nearly 10% inflation over one year and wage negotiations at a standstill, in Germany the unions are on edge. Unusually in the country, two transport-related power plants, Verdi and EVG, have decided to join forces to paralyze the country today.

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We expect broad participation. And we have not yet started the main course, "warns the president of Verdi. Bleak prospects for users.

Indeed, it is out of the question for the two unions to be satisfied with the 5% wage increases and 1,000 to 1,500 euros in bonuses offered by local communities and public transport companies who refuse to review their proposals upwards.

Union negotiators are demanding 10 to 12% wage increases in a tense climate. To the point that the Federation of German Airports accuse the trade unionists of resorting to "a strategy of escalation of the conflict on the French model", a scarecrow for the Germans for whom social conflicts in France are synonymous with an almost permanent chaos.

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Germany
  • Transport
  • Social issues