German airports hit by strikes

Airports in Germany are suffering major disruptions on Tuesday as the Verdi union extended nationwide strikes over pay. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bremen, Hanover, Dortmund and Stuttgart as well as in smaller airports across the country.

Civil servants in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hamburg also joined the strike action, disrupting public transport. Day care centers, hospitals, job centers, trash collection services, some banks as well as town halls and local authorities are all affected by the stoppages.

The head of one of Germany's biggest union, Verdi, Frank Bsirske is scheduled to speak in the southwestern city of Saarbrücken later on Tuesday.

Verdi is demanding a 6.5-percent raise, or a minimum of 200 euros, for roughly two million workers. Employers have offered a 3.3-percent increase for two years as well as a one-off payment.

Verdi has dismissed the offer as far too low and has vowed to continue strikes, which has paralyzed public services throughout Germany during March.

Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich criticized the strikes as "inappropriate action," given that employers had made a "substantial offer," he said in an interview with daily Rheinische Post.

ng/mz (dapd, dpa)