Book Fair "fully accessible" despite warning strike

Despite the planned warning strike in local public transport in Leipzig, the Leipzig Book Fair, which opened on Thursday, remains accessible to visitors. Streetcars and suburban trains will continue to run between the main railway station and the exhibition grounds, the organizers told Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "We therefore assume that our participants will still be able to travel to and enjoy the Leipzig Book Fair without restrictions," said fair spokesperson Andreas Knaut. On Wednesday, the trade union Verdi called for a warning strike in Saxony following failed negotiations.

"Nevertheless, this strike is absolutely ill-timed," criticized Knaut. "It is only likely to cause uncertainty among all our participants. That's not helpful for anyone."

Leipzig's Lord Mayor also expressed his incomprehension, according to a statement. "This labor dispute is damaging the Leipzig Trade Fair and the entire city. We welcome hundreds of thousands of guests to the book fair in Leipzig, and this wage dispute is now being carried out on their backs," he said. There is no sensible reason for a strike during the trade fair.

In addition to Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Plauen and Zwickau are also to be affected by the warning strike. Verdi justifies the renewed strike with a lack of appreciation for the work of the employees on the part of the Saxony Municipal Employers' Association (KAV) in the collective bargaining negotiations.

The collective bargaining dispute is about the general collective agreement, which primarily regulates the working conditions for employees. Verdi is demanding, among other things, an increase in vacation entitlement, the introduction of time bonuses for Saturday work or overtime pay. The KAV Saxony had canceled a round of negotiations scheduled for the end of February 28. The new date was set for March 19.