The public transport system of Germany on Monday was paralyzed by a one-day warning strike that brought national and local rail services to a standstill, causing misery for millions of commuters and severely disrupting freight traffic in Europe’s largest economy. Germany transport strike grabbed headlines all around the world as the transport workers protested against the government over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. The 24-hour strike, which began at midnight on Sunday, was called by powerful service sector union Verdi and the EVG, which represents rail workers. As per German media, they said that employers are ignoring the effects the escalating cost of living crisis is having on their members. Now, the question arises what are the demands of the protesting workers? Here's what we know so far-
What are the demands of the protesting German workers?
As per German media reports, the union, which represents around 2.5 million public employees, is demanding a 10.5 percent and no less than $540 (€500) pay rise amid a soaring fall in purchasing value of money and the cost-of-living crisis. Deutsche Bahn on Sunday was quoted saying the strike was "completely excessive, groundless and unnecessary," and employers are warning that higher wages for transport workers would result in higher fares and taxes to make up the difference. Labour strikes are a regular occurrence in Germany and normally end in a compromise deal between unions and employers.
Germany Transport Strike
An increased number of travellers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday, a day before a major one-day strike that aims to bring the country's transportation system to a standstill. However, even advance travel was met with disruption in some places as Munich airport already shut down because of the impending strike on Monday, and technical problems affecting German airline Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country's biggest airport. Furthermore, Munich Airport, the country’s second-busiest, said that the verdi union was hitting it with two days of strikes and it has no regular passenger or cargo flights on either Sunday or Monday. A total of around 1,500 connections were affected, and takeoffs and landings were only possible for emergency humanitarian flights.
It is pertinent to mention here that German unions had called on thousands of workers across the country’s transportation system to stage a one-day strike as employees in many sectors are seeking hefty raises to reflect persistently high inflation. Ver.di chair Frank Werneke said last week that the service workers' union is calling for 120,000 workers to walk out
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