The wave of strikes at the airline has not yet broken. The company appeals to the unions.
Lufthansa, slowed down by renewed strikes, is demanding solutions at the negotiating table from the UFO and Verdi unions. “We have made good, far-reaching offers at both Verdi and Ufo, both with salary increases of around ten percent,” said the airline’s human resources director, Michael Niggemann, at Frankfurt Airport. “I think this is the basis for finding short-term solutions. We are ready to negotiate.”
After the warning strikes among ground staff organized by Verdi last week, flight attendants from Lufthansa and the regional subsidiary Lufthansa Cityline in Frankfurt went on strike on Tuesday. From 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the evening, all Lufthansa departures at Germany’s largest airport were to be on strike. Lufthansa assumed on Monday that 600 flights in Frankfurt would be canceled due to the strike, affecting 70,000 passengers.
This Wednesday (March 13th), UFO has called on the Lufthansa cabin crew at Munich Airport to go on strike from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. According to Lufthansa’s estimates, 400 flights with 50,000 passengers will not be able to take off there.
In order to offer passengers alternatives on the two UFO strike days, Lufthansa has, according to a spokesman, expanded its offering on the route between Frankfurt and Munich at short notice. After the strikes end, some passengers will still have to expect delays and flight cancellations.
Demand and offer are still quite far apart
UFO called on a total of around 19,000 flight attendants at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline to go on strike at the weekend. The flight attendants of the core company and the regional subsidiary Cityline had previously voted for the strike in separate ballots with more than 96 percent each.
The UFO union is essentially demanding 15 percent more money for the approximately 18,000 cabin employees at Lufthansa and the almost 1,000 employees at Cityline with a contract term of 18 months. UFO also wants to achieve an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros as well as higher allowances. According to its own information, Lufthansa has offered an increase in tariff salaries of 6.0 percent for August 2024 and a further 3.25 percent for August 2025 over a period of 24 months. In addition, cabin employees should receive an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros in April 2024.
“I also understand our employees, the colleagues in the cabin are doing a great job, no question about it. But the strike is the wrong approach,” said Human Resources Director Niggemann. “Strike does not bring a solution, solutions can only be found at the collective bargaining table.” The manager emphasized that Lufthansa has “some of the best conditions in the industry,” which is also shown by the high number of applications.
New negotiations with Verdi
Negotiations with Verdi for the approximately 25,000 employees on the ground are scheduled to continue this Wednesday and Thursday (March 13/14). The Verdi union is demanding 12.5 percent more money for a term of twelve months, while the company has so far offered 10 percent for a term of 28 months. After four rounds of negotiations, an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros is comparatively undisputed.
“We will negotiate with Verdi tomorrow and the day after, we have presented what we believe to be a good offer,” said Niggemann. “Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow we have to find solutions.”
UFO: Cabin participate in the company’s success
UFO boss Joachim Vázquez Bürger had warned with reference to the net profit of almost 1.7 billion euros for 2023 presented by Lufthansa last week: “The cabin must now also be involved in this success and the concessions made during the Corona crisis must be adequately compensated for.”
Lufthansa’s human resources director Niggemann appealed to the unions: “Last year’s results show that if we work together, when we fly, then we can achieve these record profits.” Striking is “the wrong way, striking burns money.”
Strike call UFO
Source: Stern
