Europe

Berlin ground staff strike, hundreds of flights canceled

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Participants of a strike organized by the German ver.di union walk past travelers queuing in front of a booking change counter at the Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 13, 2017. The union, representing airport ground staff, has called on its members to go on strike again at Berlin's two airports Tegel and Schoenefeld. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

Travelers wait at Schoenefeld airport outside Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 13, 2017. Ground staff at Berlin's two airports went on strike Monday for the second time in four days, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights. (Ralf Hirschberger/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Participants of a strike organized by the German ver.di union walk past travelers queuing in front of a booking change counter at the Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 13, 2017. The union, representing airport ground staff, has called on its members to go on strike again at Berlin's two airports Tegel and Schoenefeld. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

Ground staff at Berlin's two airports have gone on strike for the second time in four days, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

The ver.di union called on staff at the Tegel and Schoenefeld airports to walk out from 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) Monday until 5 a.m. (0400 GMT) Tuesday. The strike follows a similar all-day walkout on Friday.

Airport authorities said 448 departures from Tegel, the busier airport, and 194 from Schoenefeld were canceled — most of the flights planned for the day.

Ver.di announced the new walkout on Sunday, arguing that it was necessary because employers hadn't reacted to the previous strike and made a new offer in their wage dispute.