After the ground crew at Lufthansa, the controller of the German AUA, grounded air traffic for an entire day on Wednesday, the pilots are gearing up for a labor dispute. In voting, the voting members of the Cockpit Association (VC) voted in favor of a labor dispute with a very clear majority. The union reported on Sunday after counting the votes.
This means that a strike of around 5,000 pilots on Lufthansa’s flagship brand is possible with immediate effect, but this was not initially requested from the Executive Board. Even before the count, VC fare expert Marcel Gröls had explained that it was initially a “red flag” for Lufthansa’s management. “Good offers” are now expected from management. Collective bargaining has not yet been declared a failure by either side.
overwhelming majorities
According to VC, 97.6% of Lufthansa Passenger Airlines participants voted in favor of the strike. At the freight subsidiary Cargo, approval was even higher, with 99.3%. According to the union, participation was over 93% in both flight operations. The approval of more than 70 percent of all those entitled to vote was required.
The VC evaluated the result of the vote as evidence of the strong support for the objectives of the Group’s Collective Working Committee. “We now need a modern, fair and internationally competitive pay structure across all professional groups,” explained Gröls. A positive vote does not necessarily lead to a strike. But it is an unmistakable sign to Lufthansa that it takes the needs of cockpit personnel seriously.
It was only on Wednesday that the German union Verdi nearly brought the flight operations of Germany’s biggest airline to a standstill with a warning strike by ground personnel. More than 1,000 flights were canceled and around 134,000 passengers had to change their travel plans. Verdi had not held a vote before. Businesses and politicians have criticized the duration and scope of the work stoppages. Trading is expected to resume on Wednesday (August 3).
According to sources, the pilots’ union may be ready for a strike before the end of the holiday season. In previous years, September was also a particularly busy month, so a strike at this time would also have a severe impact on the company.
The reason for the preparations for the VC strike is the impasse after six rounds of negotiations on a new salary agreement. From the VC’s point of view, Lufthansa has not yet submitted a negotiable offer. According to its own statements, the VC requires, among other things, salary increases of 5.5% in the current year and an automatic readjustment of inflation starting next year. She had terminated the previous collective agreement on June 30. (apa, dpa, afp)