German public workers strike, hundreds of flights cancelled

Berlin: Hundreds of flights have been cancelled as workers at several German airports have joined other public employees staging short-term warning strikes in a pay dispute.

The ver.di union wants a 6.5 per cent increase this year for 2 million federal and municipal government employees. It has rejected a 3.3 per cent increase over two years.

It's staging warning strikes to increase pressure ahead of the next round of pay talks, which begin on Wednesday.

Airline Lufthansa said on Tuesday that it cancelled more than 400 flights at Frankfurt airport alone. Other airports affected include Munich, Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart.

Also on strike in scattered areas around the country were bus and streetcar drivers, kindergarten teachers and garbage collectors, among others.