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Security workers in Germany are fighting for a living wage. Their union, Ver.di, has been in negotiations with global security company, Securitas, to raise the wage to  €9.20 for the guards at the airport and other important locations.

Messages of solidarity and protest have been streaming in from across the world. Unions from countries as far as Finland, the United States and Australia have been writing letters of protest to their local Securitas management and sending pictures, videos and messages of solidarity to the striking German workers and their union, Ver.di. The global staff of UNI gathered in Nyon last week and made a special video for the striking workers and security guards who have had the courage and the guts to take a stand for a fair wage in Germany. General Secretary, Philip Jennings, said, ‘We support your demand for a living wage. Germany is Europe’s richest economy. There is no excuse why any business refuses to pay a living wage’.

Peter Bremme who is leading these negotiations at Ver.di thanked UNI and its affiliates for supporting the security workers’ strike and sending messages of solidarity. He said, ‘Our strike was very effective with more than 95% of the airport security workers on strike. Other airport workers joined our strike in solidarity. The action was so successful that the police closed the airport and we now have a united workforce at the airport’.

Negotiations are continuing. UNI Global Union and its affiliates stand united with Ver.di in their fight for a living wage and better conditions for security workers.