As of: February 2, 2024, 7:14 p.m
By: Bettina Menzel
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Several strikes are planned nationwide this week: in local transport, at airports, among doctors and possibly on the streets.
© dpa / Bodo Marks / IMAGO (2) / BildFunkMV / Panama Pictures
Strikes and protests are planned for four days this week in Germany: at university hospitals, airports, in local transport and on motorways.
Millions of people are affected.
Berlin - Strikes as far as the eye can see: Verdi is calling for a nationwide warning strike at airports, doctors are stopping work at numerous university hospitals and a labor dispute is also imminent in local transport.
As if that wasn't enough, the farmers also want to protest again - this time at motorway entrances.
An overview of the strike days, the possible effects and how consumers can avoid the worst.
Doctors go on strike at over 20 university hospitals – “Half-dead in white”
Doctors want to go on strike at over 20 university hospitals nationwide on Tuesday.
“Half dead in white” was one of the slogans that could be seen on posters at the rally in Hanover.
Another banner asked: “What is your health worth to you?”
Background to the work stoppage: So far, the three rounds of negotiations with the collective bargaining community of German states regarding a wage increase for 20,000 doctors at university hospitals have been unsuccessful.
The doctors are also demanding surcharges for night, weekend and holiday shifts.
The consequences of the strike for consumers: Non-urgent operations can be postponed.
However, emergencies and vital treatments are guaranteed, it said.
When?
Tuesday (January 30): All day
Unpredictable protests: Farmers spontaneously shut down the port of Hamburg - now the motorway entrances
The farmers' protests are also having consequences again: Farmers want to demonstrate again on motorway entrances nationwide on Wednesday against the government's austerity policies.
In Bavaria, the protests are planned for between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., it was said.
This is intended to temporarily block the entrances to the motorways, but the exits should remain open.
In the Munich district alone, rallies have been registered at 18 driveways, as the district office announced.
The immediate cause of the farmers' protests is the traffic light coalition's plan to gradually abolish subsidies for agricultural diesel within three years.
The recent events in Hamburg show that this group is unpredictable: farmers there spontaneously blocked the port without prior notice.
When?
Wednesday (January 31st) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m
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Aviation security staff strike: These airports are likely to be affected
The Verdi union is calling for nationwide strikes at airports on Thursday.
Aviation security employees are supposed to stop work from early morning until midnight.
This emerges from a report by
Hessischer Rundfunk
, and Verdi himself wants to comment on it late on Tuesday afternoon.
The background to the strikes is the recent tough negotiations between the union and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies BDLS.
The consequences for consumers are likely to be felt strongly.
Because without the strikers, it is not possible to operate the security areas where luggage and passengers normally go through security checks.
Air traffic at some German airports could possibly come to a complete standstill.
Limitations can be felt in any case.
According to the Reuters news agency, Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne-Bonn, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airports are particularly affected.
Consumers who booked a trip on Thursday need to be patient.
When?
Thursday (February 1): Early morning until midnight
If you have a flight ticket that can be rebooked flexibly, you should rebook it for another day to avoid problems.
As the consumer advice center reports, missed trips due to delays in security checks are a special case.
The federal police are responsible for security checks, so consumers must make claims to the state.
In some cases, however, there may also be claims against the airline, according to consumer advocates.
Ver.di strikers at Munich Airport (archive photo 2023).
© Imago/Sven Simon
Strike in local public transport in 80 cities in Germany - but not in Bavaria
And the Verdi union is once again calling for industrial action this week, this time in local public transport (ÖPNV).
Shortly after the train drivers' strike was averted, there are now disruptions on buses, subways and local trains.
The upcoming collective bargaining round affects over 130 municipal companies and a total of around 90,000 employees.
In around 80 cities and almost all federal states, local public transport employees will stop working on Friday.
People in Bavaria can breathe a sigh of relief: it is the only federal state not affected by the strike.
When?
Friday (February 2nd), probably all day (in all federal states except Bavaria)
Above all, the union is demanding better working conditions.
“For example, in some tariffs we are demanding a reduction in weekly working hours with full wage compensation; this is about the 35-hour week,” said Verdi deputy chairwoman Christine Behle in Berlin.
The impact is huge: it is estimated that millions of people in Germany will be affected.
Anyone who can work from home or postpone errands should take advantage of this option on Friday to avoid the greatest hassle.