Frankfurt — Striking ground staff at Frankfurt airport caused about 40 flight cancellations on Wednesday, right before the Christmas holidays.
Most of the workers of handling company WISAG stayed at home, as they had announced, said strike leader Mathias Venema of trade union Verdi.
The strike, which began early on Wednesday, was to last until the end of operations. The background is an unresolved collective bargaining dispute about the working conditions of the 600 employees.
According to a WISAG spokesperson, about 40 flights were cancelled in agreement with the airlines, while 32 connections were to take place with the help of an emergency service.
The service provider is responsible for about 15 per cent of the traffic at Germany's largest airport and handles the jets of many companies outside the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa itself had to close its first class terminal on Wednesday because, among other things, the driving service to the tarmac is provided by WISAG.
Dozens of flights were also cancelled during a first warning strike at the end of October. Verdi had not planned a rally because of the current coronavirus situation.
The union is demanding that the working week be reduced by two and a half hours, to 37.5 hours, with full wage compensation and a stable increase of at least 90 euros (102 dollars) starting next year. A demand for a 1,500-euro coronavirus bonus had been dropped.
The union reported heavy burdens for the workers because WISAG had dismissed about one-third of the workforce a year ago.
According to Verdi, the next round of negotiations is scheduled for January 11.
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