BERLIN Reuters - German trade union Verdi has called on technical staff at Hamburg Airport to go on strike on Friday, just as school holidays in the region kick off, adding to the existing industry-wide crunch.
Airlines around the world had slashed jobs and other costs during the coronaviruses epidemic, which has grounded most flights, and have found themselves in a quandary due to the lifting of COVID 19 restrictions.
Some 200 employees responsible for infrastructure maintenance at Germany's fifth busiest airport will walk off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday to protest the lack of a pay rise during the pandemic period.
The union said it was demanding an 8.5% salary increase over 12 months for staff at Real Estate Maintenance GmbH RMH at Hamburg Airport, which is responsible for maintenance of infrastructure, including luggage handling machinery and runways.
The company offered a pay increase of 4% a year for the past two years, according to the union.
The airport didn't respond to a request for comment about the expected impact.
School holidays in the neighbouring northern German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania begin on Friday, and Hamburg schools end for the summer on July 7.