On Monday, March 27th, workers from different sectors, including public and private transportation, public infrastructure, and logistics, will participate in a nationwide strike in Germany.
The strike has been called by Ver.di and EVG, two of Germany’s largest labor unions, to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
The strike will begin on March 27th at midnight and last for 24 hours, causing disruptions in public transportation, airports, and other areas of public infrastructure.
The workers’ union argues that their members have kept public infrastructure running under difficult conditions during the pandemic, and that they deserve better pay and benefits. The union also asserts that the employers’ current offers do not meet their demands, which is why they will go on strike.
Ver.di and EVG have been calling for a wage increase of 10.5% or a minimum of €500 per month for their members in various sectors, including public service, transportation, and logistics. The unions say that their members’ work is essential for people’s everyday lives, and their strike is a last resort to improve their wages and working conditions.
Due to the planned nationwide strike, the logistics industry is warning of “supply chaos” and calling for the lifting of the truck driving ban on Sunday, reports German transportation portal Verkehrs Rundshau.
“It would therefore be sensible if Transport Minister Wissing lifted the truck driving ban on this Sunday. This could mitigate much of the chaos and damage to the economy that Verdi wants to cause.”
“The strike will also hit many truck drivers and trips massively,” said Dirk Engelhardt, President of the Federal Association of Freight Transport, Logistics and Disposal (BGL), to the “Bild” newspaper on Friday, March 24. If goods cannot be delivered on time, there is a risk of supply chaos and damage of millions, Engelhardt added.