At Lufthansa, the signs were already back on strike. Last week, companies and pilots agreed on an interim solution at the last moment. Details have now been revealed.
For almost ten months, Lufthansa customers do not have to fear any further strikes by the pilots. Last week, the company and the Vereinigung Cockpit trade union agreed on an interim solution that included a peace obligation until June 30, 2023. During this time, the open issues should be discussed in a confidential setting, as both sides announced on Monday, along with further details. The approximately 5,000 pilots of the core company Lufthansa and the freight subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo will receive a total of 980 euros more basic salary per month in two steps.
For the time being, the pilots’ strike day on September 2 remains in the current pay round. More than 800 flights with around 130,000 affected passengers were canceled that day. However, the controversial collective agreements are still open, as VC spokesman Matthias Baier noted. On Tuesday, VC called off an announced second wave of strikes at the last moment after the agreement that had now been worked out in detail had been reached in principle.
The pilots will receive flat-rate increases in their monthly basic remuneration in two steps. Retroactive to August 1, 2022 and again on April 1, 2023, the table goes up by 490 euros gross. According to Lufthansa, this means around 20 percent more for young co-pilots, while captains in the final stage should receive 5.5 percent more money through the flat-rate increases.
VC tariff expert: “Currently on the right track”
The increases are above the company’s last public offering, but also below the demands of the VC, which originally requested an automated compensation above the current inflation. This requirement was later amended.
VC tariff expert Marcel Gröls described the agreed increases as gratifying. A further step towards a sustainable partnership has also been achieved. Gröls said: “We are currently on the right track with Lufthansa.”
Lufthansa Chief Human Resources Officer Michael Niggemann announced a trusting dialogue with VC to find sustainable solutions. According to the announcement, he said: “The common goal is to continue to offer our pilots attractive and secure jobs with development prospects in the future.”
Fundamental dispute over the size of the core company
A list of topics for further talks was not mentioned. In addition to various roster issues, the fundamental dispute smoldering in the background about the size of the core Lufthansa company is likely to play a role. CEO Carsten Spohr has indicated a willingness to revive a fleet commitment of 325 aircraft that has been canceled in the meantime.
For years, VC has been resisting attempts within the group to shift transport services and thus jobs to more cost-effective flight operations. The management had recently started to set up a company under the internal name “Cityline 2”, which could take over the short and medium-sized feeder flights to the Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.
It was only in July that the Verdi union almost paralyzed flight operations at Germany’s largest airline for a day with a warning strike by ground staff. The flight attendants’ union Ufo wants to negotiate for its members in the fall.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
