Strike over pay paralyzes rail, air travel in Germany
Trains are parked near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A train is parked outside the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Union representatives stick a poster reading “Warning strike!” on a glass door at Hamburg Airport, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany. The trade union Verdi and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) have called for a nationwide warning strike in the transport sector on Monday. (Bodo Marks/dpa via AP)
A Deutsche Bahn employee checks a train near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Cars and trucks are stuck in a traffic jam on a highway during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Cars and trucks are stuck in a traffic jam on a highway during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Trains are parked outside the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a nationwide public transport strike. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A Deutsche Bahn employee walks past ICE trains that are parked near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Lights burn in a closed subway station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Railroad signals turned to red near the tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Trains of Berlin’s S-Bahn public transport parked on tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A man walks on a platform at the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a nationwide public transport strike. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A woman passes the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Aircrafts of the German airline Lufthansa are parked during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Police officers guard the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A traveler rests in the main train station of the German capital in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A man passes a deserted railway platform at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A man sits on a bench at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Trains are parked near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A train is parked outside the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Union representatives stick a poster reading “Warning strike!” on a glass door at Hamburg Airport, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany. The trade union Verdi and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) have called for a nationwide warning strike in the transport sector on Monday. (Bodo Marks/dpa via AP)
Union representatives stick a poster reading “Warning strike!” on a glass door at Hamburg Airport, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany. The trade union Verdi and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) have called for a nationwide warning strike in the transport sector on Monday. (Bodo Marks/dpa via AP)
A Deutsche Bahn employee checks a train near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Cars and trucks are stuck in a traffic jam on a highway during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Cars and trucks are stuck in a traffic jam on a highway during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Trains are parked outside the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a nationwide public transport strike. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A Deutsche Bahn employee walks past ICE trains that are parked near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A Deutsche Bahn employee walks past ICE trains that are parked near the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Germany faces a nationwide public transport strike on Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Lights burn in a closed subway station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Railroad signals turned to red near the tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Railroad signals turned to red near the tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Trains of Berlin’s S-Bahn public transport parked on tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Trains of Berlin’s S-Bahn public transport parked on tracks in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday before the one-day strike that started Monday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A man walks on a platform at the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a nationwide public transport strike. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A woman passes the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A woman passes the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Aircrafts of the German airline Lufthansa are parked during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Aircrafts of the German airline Lufthansa are parked during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Police officers guard the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Police officers guard the deserted departure terminal during a strike in Bavaria at the airport in Munich, Germany, Sunday, March 26, 2023. An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday to avoid a massive one-day strike Monday that’s supposed to bring the country’s transport system to a standstill. But even advance travels were met with disruptions in some places as Munich airport already shut down Sunday due to the strike and technical problems at Lufthansa in Frankfurt led to flight delays and cancellations at the country’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A traveler rests in the main train station of the German capital in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A traveler rests in the main train station of the German capital in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023, during a national wide public transport strike. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A man passes a deserted railway platform at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A man passes a deserted railway platform at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A man sits on a bench at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A man sits on a bench at the central station during a nationwide public transport strike in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 27, 2023. Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
BERLIN (AP) — Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members.
The 24-hour walkout — one of the biggest in decades — also affected cargo transport by rail and ship, as workers at the country’s ports and waterways joined the strike.
Many commuters opted to drive to work, causing some delays on the roads, while those who could worked from home.
Unions are seeking a pay increase of at least 10.5% and have dismissed offers from employers of about 5% over two years plus one-off payments.
High inflation also seen elsewhere last year has hit many workers hard, said Ulrich Silberbach of the Civil Service Federation.
“We have recorded drops in real wages and these need to be balanced out,” he told reporters in Berlin, adding that some of his union’s members in larger cities are having to apply for state benefits to afford rent.
Silberbach said that he hoped employers would increase their offer in upcoming talks — otherwise, unions might have to consider an open-ended strike.
His colleague Martin Burkert from the EVG rail union lamented that workers’ pay is a fraction of what some top managers earn.
But rail company Deutsche Bahn called the union’s demands exaggerated and warned that millions of commuters would be affected.
“Thousands of companies that normally send or receive their goods by rail will also suffer,” Deutsche Bahn spokesman Achim Strauss said. “The environment and the climate will also suffer in the end. Today’s winners are the oil companies.”
Train tickets that couldn’t be used because of the disruption will remain valid and travelers should check the company’s website for updates, he said.
Three days of talks are scheduled between the two sides. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who represents the federal government in the negotiations, said her side would engage in the discussions in a “tough but also fair and constructive” fashion.
Faeser said she was confident that a good solution can be reached.
Labor strikes are a regular occurrence in Germany and normally end in a compromise deal between unions and employers.
The walkout already caused disruption and delays Sunday, as travelers scrambled to reach their destinations early.