Germany's transport network at near standstill as two of country's largest unions strike

COLOMBO (News1st); Two of the largest unions in Germany have initiated a strike, bringing the country's transportation network to a near standstill on Monday. 

Public transport employees at airports, ports, railways, buses, and subways walked out after midnight for a 24-hour stoppage, demanding higher wages to cope with the rising cost of living across the country. 

This strike is the largest in decades, with multiple smaller walkouts by other public service sectors previously. 

Verdi and EVG are the two unions involved, with Verdi representing approximately 2.5 million public sector employees, including public transport and airport staff. 

Meanwhile, EVG represents about 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail operator, and other bus companies. 

The strike has already disrupted multiple flights at Munich Airport, with the airport association estimating that around 380,000 air travelers will be affected. 

While some employer representatives criticize the unions' demands, some have been successful in winning wage increases, such as postal workers who recently secured an 11.5% pay rise.