BERLIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Germany's second largest workers' union ver.di called on security staff at three German airports to go on strike, the union announced on Wednesday.
The strike will affect airports of Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart. According to airport association (ADV), around 111,000 travelers will be affected. Ver.di expects that the strike action will cause strong restrictions in air traffic.
The warning strike is "excessive, ruthless and irresponsible", ADV chief executive Ralph Beisel said. This would cause great damage not only to the airports, which were not a negotiating partner in the dispute, but also to "Germany's image".
Ver.di is demanding hourly wages of 20 euros (22.9 U.S. dollars) nationwide for about 23,000 air security staff. According to workers' union, the employers' association for aviation security (BDLS) had offered significantly less.
On Jan. 7, security staff at Berlin's two airports already went on strike and caused severe disruption to flights. The warning strike announced Wednesday, would be a reaction to the fact that employers had not submitted an improved offer, according to ver.di. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Jan., 23.
