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European Airport Workers Warn Five Countries of January Strikes.
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European Airport Workers Warn Five Countries of January Strikes.

A wave of strikes is currently occurring throughout Europe as workers protest for better wages and working conditions. Numerous industries are significantly impacted by these strikes, especially those who have travel plans during this time.

Below is a summary of the strikes that will take place in several European nations over the next few weeks:

January airport strikes in Spain
From January 5 to 8, Iberia ground services employees in Spain went on strike, impacting all 29 airports that the nation’s flag carrier serves. 444 flights from Iberia, Iberia Express, and Air Nostrum were impacted by the strikes, which were originally planned for December but were subsequently rescheduled. In addition, during two daily two-hour walkouts, airport security personnel at Alicante-Elche airport will go on strike from January 1–14, disrupting security procedures and luggage handling.

Workers’ protests against outsourcing could result in changes to working conditions, thus travelers are encouraged to look for other flights.

UK: Call Off of London Tube Strikes
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled strikes on the London Underground scheduled for January 8–12 have been called off. Twenty minutes prior to the planned start, the cancellation was caused by London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s updated wage offer. However, because of the last-minute cancelation, there might still be some travel inconveniences on Monday.

Italy: January airport and public transportation strikes
On January 24, there will be a statewide strike impacting buses, trams, and subways throughout Italy. Travelers may experience delays and cancellations due to this strike, since air traffic controllers are scheduled to walk out from 1 to 5 p.m.

Train Employees in France Handle Holiday Strikes
Travelers were relieved that French rail unions SudRail and CGT des Cheminots chose not to go on strike for the Christmas and New Year holiday. But pay conflicts still exist, and after the hectic holiday season, walkouts can happen again.

Germany: Open-ended strikes are announced by train drivers
German train drivers want to go on strike from January 10–12, and more strikes are expected in 2024. The long-running disagreement over working conditions, compensation, and hours with train operator Deutsche Bahn is the cause of the open-ended strikes, which affect both freight and train personnel. Accusations of a conflict of interest have the potential to hinder the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) in its negotiations for collective bargaining with railroad firms.

Regardless of the weather, travelers visiting Europe should get travel insurance to safeguard themselves against unforeseen costs in light of the ongoing tensions. For travelers to enjoy their vacation to Europe with peace of mind, companies such as AXA Travel Insurance, Europ Assistance, Allianz Travel Insurance, Mondial Care, Mutuaide, and DR-WALTER provide reasonable rates.