Budapest - Representatives for striking Hungarian airport workers protested outside the German Embassy in Budapest on Monday, calling for action to ensure that the German-owned company operating Ferihegy International Airport adheres to European labour regulations. An ongoing strike at Hungary's only major international airport entered its thirteenth day on Monday.
Unions are calling on the German government to act over what they claim are unlawful strike-breaking tactics used by airport operator Budapest Airport, a subsidiary of the German firm Hochtief.
Some 50 striking airport workers and family members gathered in front of the German Embassy on Budapest's picturesque Castle District to hand over a petition to Dorotheee Janetzke-Wenzel, the German ambassador to Hungary.
Budapest Airport brought in 38 temporary security staff from Greece a week ago in a move that was condemned by Hungarian and European trade union organisations.
With the extra staff, the operator was able to restore service at Hungary's only major international airport, although all passengers are now being squeezed through just one of three terminals.
"In our view, the action was pointless, since the embassy's responsibilities lie in the field of international relations and it can do little about an industrial dispute of a German private company," the director of corporate affairs for Budapest Airport, Mihaly Hardy, told local news agency MTI.
Hardy added that traffic was flowing smoothly at the airport and no date had yet been set for the resumption of negotiations with unions.
The president of the Railway Workers' Free Trade Union, Istvan Gasko, who is currently leading a strike that has crippled Hungary's rail network for a week, turned up to show solidarity with the airport workers.
Francois Ballestero, political secretary of the European Transport Workers Federation, was also outside the German Embassy. "I am here to show the full commitment of the ETF and its members to your cause, and I hope my presence will help make progress in negotiations." he told striking workers.
Ballestero added that his organization, which represents about 2.5 million workers across Europe, has established a "solidarity fund" to help striking airport staff.
Unions representing airport employees announced over the weekend that they wanted to bring in the Belgian trade unionist to act as an intermediary in negotiations with management. The proposal was turned down by Budapest Airport.
Ground staff came out on strike on December 10 in an attempt to force Budapest Airport to end a restructuring programme and extend a collective employment contract until a new one has been agreed upon. Unions also want backdated overtime payments and a pledge from management that there will be no job cuts before 2010 and no further outsourcing.
The walkout, particularly that of security personnel, caused chaos and dozens of cancelled flights in the first days of the strike as passengers were no longer able to proceed to boarding gates.
