BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - German ground staff went on strikeat Berlin's two airports on Wednesday, forcing the cancellationof 137 flights and delaying many more.
Ground crew, represented by union Verdi, went on strike atTegel and Schoenefeld airports at 0400 GMT and were due toresume work at 1000 GMT. They want a pay rise of roughly 10percent to 12 euros an hour.
Verdi says ground staff, whose roles include loading andunloading planes and directing them on the tarmac, are paid toolittle considering safety is paramount in the industry and theworkload is increasing due to rising passenger numbers.
Passenger numbers to Tegel and Schoenefeld rose a combined11 percent in 2016.
About 500 take-offs and landings were planned for Wednesdayat Berlin's airports, an airports spokesman said. He said nomore specific figures were immediately available.
Ground crew were also on strike at smaller airports inHamburg and Stuttgart.
"It's a pay level that for the amount of work we do simplyisn't enough," Verdi negotiator, Enrico Ruemker, told Reuters TVat Tegel. "We're due to negotiate for the fourth time onFebruary 10 and if no offer is put forward then further strikesare very likely."
Airlines that serve the German capital, including Lufthansa, easyJet, Air Berlin and Ryanair, had to cancel or delay flights.
Hotel rooms are hard to find as Berlin is hosting a tradefair this week, and easyJet said on its website that it wasoffering hotel accommodation in Cottbus, about 125 km (78 miles)from Berlin. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Victoria Bryan; Editing byLouise Ireland)
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