Business News
Monday meeting to decide whether German air controllers to strike
Oct 10, 2011, 8:49 GMT
Frankfurt - German air traffic controllers are set to meet Monday to decide whether to go on strike, following the collapse of talks about work conditions on Friday.
If the controllers opt for a work stoppage, it would be the first nationwide strike by that group in German history. Law requires a 24-hour warning before any strike, meaning no labour action could start before Wednesday.
Trade unionists said the final round of negotiations with air traffic control operator DFS, aimed at establishing a new collective-bargaining agreement on wages and work conditions, had failed Friday.
The GdF trade union, which is negotiating on behalf of DFS' approximately 5,000 employees - including about 1,900 air traffic controllers - says the dispute is less about wages than concerns about long shifts required of some employees.
