2-day strike due at Munich Airport on Thursday, Friday

A two-day strike at Germany's Munich Airport, involving security, ground staff and others, has been called for Thursday and Friday, the verdi trade union announced on Monday, after other walk-outs hit two other German airports, reported dpa.

Union spokeswoman Manuela Dietz said Munich Airport had closed in a similar situation two years ago but emphasized that the decision was up to the relevant authorities.

Walk-outs by public sector workers were already under way at Cologne/Bonn Airport in western Germany, where a 24-hour strike began late on Sunday. Industrial action at the nearby Dusseldorf Airport kicked off early on Monday.

It comes after public transport workers went on strike in many German states on Friday.

Verdi and the dbb civil servants' union are negotiating wages and working conditions for over 2.5 million public sector employees in various sectors, including education, administration and airports.

Munich Airport in the south of Germany is much bigger than Cologne and Dusseldorf. It is Lufthansa's second hub after Frankfurt.

The planned strike in Munich, which is set to include at least 1,000 workers, is aimed at putting pressure on bosses in wage negotiations.

Dietz said the strike was being publicized early to give travellers the chance to change plans.

"Our colleagues at the airport make an indispensable contribution to the safety and reliability of air traffic - around the clock, in all weathers," Dietz said.

"The increasing workload and ongoing staff shortages are putting a considerable strain on our employees."

A spokesman for Munich Airport said: "We are in close contact with the airlines and service providers in order to reduce the inconvenience for travellers as far as possible."

A second round of negotiations last week failed to produce an agreement. The unions want to push through a wage increase of 8% and three additional days off.

Employers - especially local authorities - point to the already high debts of many cities and municipalities.

In Dusseldorf on Monday, passengers at the state of North Rhine-Westphalia's largest airport had to deal with large-scale flight cancellations and delays. Around 30% of take-offs and landings were axed, officials said.

According to Cologne/Bonn Airport, 106 planned flights have been cancelled.