Preparedness in times of unrest: Cost-of-living crisis fuels airport strikes in Germany
On March 10th, 2025, the Ver.di trade union orchestrated a 24-hour strike which led to significant disruptions across 13 major German airports. The industrial action, involving public-sector employees and approximately 23,000 ground handling staff, led to the cancellation of more than 3,500 flights, impacting around 560,000 passengers [1].
Ver.di demanded an 8% pay increase for public-sector workers, with a spokesperson for the trade union stating: "The walkout was necessary so that the impact of the strike could really be felt." [2]
The strike was in response to the financial strain many workers are feeling as wages remain the same while living expenses continue to rise.
The cost-of-living crisis—a global problem
The cost-of-living crisis, brought about by factors such as the pandemic and the rise in energy costs, has been the motivation for strikes around the world in recent years.
Between 2022 and 2024 [3], the UK experienced significant railway strikes primarily driven by the escalating cost-of-living crisis, which affected millions of people and cost industries including hospitality, retail, education, and the health care sector significant economic stress. Similarly, in the United States, dockworkers at major ports along the East and Gulf Coasts initiated a strike over stalled wage and automation negotiations, disrupting trade and creating widespread delays across various industries [4].
The BCI Horizon Scan Report 2024 [5] revealed the increased cost of living among the top five most frequent and impactful events affecting organizations—the only risk that remained in the top for both 2023 and 2024.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen energy price shocks severely impact our organization. As a local authority, our duty of care to prevent homelessness has become increasingly challenging. The ongoing housing and cost of living crisis is driving more families to seek help from us, leading to skyrocketing demands on our budget for social housing. We’re grappling with systemic issues that are only getting worse.”
Emergency planning & response manager, public sector, UK [5].
Implications for organizations
Disruptions like strikes as a result of the cost-of-living crisis impact supply chains, delay the delivery of goods, and amplify operational costs for those reliant on stable trade flows. The BCI Emergency and Crisis Communications Report 2025 [6] revealed disruptions increased globally by 42% compared to the previous year, with protests and riots surging at an alarming rate. The report also showed civil unrest as a new addition in the top triggers that prompted a response in crisis communications in 20.4% of organizations.
Other implications include a negative impact on mental health. Findings from the BCI Horizon Scan Report 2024 [5] showed a worrying increase in the decline of staff morale, wellbeing, and mental health (up 39.1%), second only to a loss in productivity (69.5%) caused by factors like the cost-of-living crisis.
Preparation is key
While cost-cutting measures are often seen as a quick solution by leaders, the resulting disruptions—civil unrest, strikes, and negative impacts on mental health—can severely affect operations. In the long run, this can end up costing not only organizations but entire economies a lot more.
Planning ahead is key and practices like horizon scanning to identify disruptions are effective ways to do this. To navigate the consequences of events like transport strikes, ensure employees have the capability to work from home where possible; this can have a positive ripple effect, improving mental health and boosting morale and productivity. While many disruptions can’t be prevented, they can be planned for to improve, or in some cases, establish organizational resilience.
[1] A one-day strike at 13 German airports, including the main hubs, brings most flights to a halt
[2] Dozens of flights cancelled at Dublin Airport amid 24-hour walkout at top German airports
[3] Train drivers accept 15 per cent pay deal
[4] Dockworkers Approve Labor Deal
[5] BCI Horizon Scan Report 2024 | BCI
[6] BCI Emergency & Crisis Communications Report 2025 | BCI
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