COLOGNE/FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The announced warning strike by security staff at German airports has begun. The night shift at Koln/Bonn Airport went on strike on Wednesday evening, said the responsible Verdi union secretary Özay Tarim. "Participation in passenger screening is 100 percent."

The industrial action was also due to start at midnight at other airports, such as Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. In total, the strike planned until late Thursday evening (midnight) affects eleven major German airports.

At Koln/Bonn Airport, around three quarters of flight movements will be canceled. At Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart airports, all take-offs planned for Thursday have even been canceled. According to estimates by the airport association ADV, around 1100 flights are canceled or delayed nationwide. Around 200,000 passengers are affected.

Normal flight operations should only be possible again on Friday. The next Verdi warning strike is then already planned - nationwide in local public transport.

For the flights that will take place on Thursday despite the adverse circumstances, travelers must be prepared for long waiting times at the security checkpoints. To speed up the checks, they will be asked to keep hand luggage to a minimum.

In the wage dispute, Verdi is demanding 2.80 euros more pay per hour, higher function allowances and overtime bonuses from the first hour of overtime. The new collective agreement is to run for 12 months. The employers' demands go too far. The wage negotiations are to continue in Berlin on February 6 and 7./wdw/DP/he