German airport security staff to strike on Thursday

Airport security staff at major airports across Germany will go on strike on Thursday, according to a report from the Hessischer Rundfunk public broadcaster, citing the Verdi trade union.

The one-day strike is expected to paralyse passenger air traffic in large parts of Germany, as security checkpoints cannot operate without the staff responsible for clearing passengers, baggage and crews.

The strike is expected to last from early morning until about midnight on Thursday.

Verdi officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment from dpa. The trade union represents about 25,000 employees who work in airport security. They are demanding higher pay in ongoing collective bargaining talks.

Germany has been hit with a series of labour strikes in the transport sector in recent days amid demands for wage increases and changes in working hours.

A major six-day strike against state-owned railway Deutsche Bahn by the trains drivers' union GDL ended on Monday, while workers at local public transit agencies in most of the country are due to strike on Friday.

Airport security staff also briefly went on strike last March over working conditions.