Airports in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Cologne Bonn were nearly empty on Thursday, the opening day of another wave of strikes announced by Germany’s Verdi labor union in response to the rising cost of living.

Nearly 100,000 people will be impacted by aviation security personnel strikes at the three airports on Thursday and Friday, according to airport association ADV, with around 700 departing aircraft postponed.

“The situation in the terminals today is the same as it was during the previous Verdi strikes this year: departure terminals are empty, and the situation is calm,” said a spokeswoman for Hamburg Airport in a statement.

The union said it has been negotiating with the BDLS aviation security association to push for pay increases for night, weekend and public holiday shifts, with no breakthrough in sight.

On Friday the strike is set to widen as Verdi has called on security staff at Stuttgart airport to join the walkouts, prompting the airport to cancel all departures.

Germany’s EVG union has also called for a nationwide transport strike on Friday, with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn among the companies impacted.

The strike will affect 50 companies and run from 3 a.m. until 11 a.m. (0100 GMT-0900 GMT), with significant disruption expected, the railway and transport union said.

High inflation in Europe’s largest economy has prompted a wave of strikes in recent months as workers demand higher pay to offset the rising cost of living.