Lufthansa is flying back to profitability. In the collective bargaining negotiations that are about to begin, Verdi wants to secure a part of the cake for the workers on the ground.
The Verdi union is entering into collective bargaining for around 25,000 Lufthansa ground employees demanding significantly higher salaries. The remuneration of technicians and check-in employees, among others, should increase by 12.5 percent, but at least by 500 euros per month, said negotiator Marvin Reschinsky on Monday in Frankfurt.
In addition, there will be an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros, a new monthly shift allowance of 3.6 percent of the basic salary and faster, annual step increases. According to Verdi, the first hearing date is scheduled for January 18th.
After overcoming the Corona lull, Verdi sees its workforce thinned out and under a high workload. Negotiator Reschinsky explained: “Despite record profits, Lufthansa is investing too little in personnel. This is one of the reasons why we are still experiencing disrupted air traffic. Our demands are the minimum if the shortage of personnel and the chaos in air traffic are to be ended.”
Verdi is negotiating for ground staff with the largest German airline and some subsidiaries such as Cargo and Lufthansa Technik. The Cockpit Association has concluded collective agreements for the pilots in the past and the Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) is negotiating in parallel for the cabin crew. With a six-month longer term of 18 months, in addition to the one-off payment, it calls for salary increases of 15 percent. All three unions are in a position to largely shut down Lufthansa’s flight operations with a strike. For cabin and ground crew, the peacekeeping obligation ends at the end of the year.
In the upcoming collective bargaining round, Verdi has decided to eliminate existing differences in working hours between East and West Germany. Up to now, people in the East have had to work two and a half hours longer for the same money. The company should also take on the trainees on a permanent basis and give employees the choice between more money or more vacation.
Source: Stern
