Germany faces widespread strikes

Lufthansa says it will cancel domestic and European flights

Unionised workers at German airports are threatening strike action amid dissatisfaction over wages.

The Verdi union said employees at eight airports would strike on Wednesday, with Lufthansa saying 142 domestic and European flights would be cut.

The airline urged passengers to take the train instead - although in Berlin separate strikes will reduce commuter train services on Wednesday.

Germany workers want higher wages amid signs the economy is strengthening.

Economic cost

The Verdi union wants an 8% rise for 1.3 million public sector workers backdated to January.

The union has rejected the government's proposal of a 5% wage rise over two years, which would also involve longer hours. Both sides are due to hold more talks on Thursday.

The planned strikes for Wednesday come after Verdi union members staffing buses, trains, waterworks and schools took part in walk-outs on Tuesday.

Lufthansa said it would cancel domestic and European-bound flights, but that long-haul international flights would not be affected. Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne are among the airports where the strikes are set to take place.

"Strikes [at airports] could cause immense economic damage for German airports in terms of global competitiveness," said Verdi.

Train strikes

Meanwhile, the train strike at Berlin's local transport operator BVG is expected to involve 12,000 workers across Berlin's buses, trains and underground network.

And train drivers' union GDL has threatened strikes starting next Monday on both passenger and freight trains, intensifying an existing argument with Deutsche Bahn.

When a strike by GDL unions took place over 62 hours last November, it caused considerable disruption and economists estimate that it cost 75m euros (£57m) a day.

"A new set of strikes could be another endurance test for the German economy," Economy Minister Michael Glos told local media.

Talks between GDL - which has 34,000 members - and operator Deutsche Bahn - which transports five million people daily - ended on Monday amid disagreements over a pay settlement.