More Disruption: Lufthansa Staff Set To Strike Again On Thursday & Friday

BY RYTIS BERESNEVIČIUS

Following previous labor action, the ver.di union called for tougher measures since its demands were not met by Lufthansa.



Lufthansa
IATA/ICAO Code:LH/DLH
Airline Type:Full Service Carrier
Hub(s):Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport
Year Founded:1953
Alliance:Star Alliance
Airline Group:Lufthansa Group
CEO:Carsten Spohr
Country:Germany

SUMMARY

Ground handling employees at Lufthansa are set to strike on March 7 and 8 due to failed negotiations over salary demands.

Ver.di called for early negotiations with Lufthansa before the next round of discussions but was met with no improvement in offers.

Prior strikes by ver.di have targeted specific sectors within Lufthansa, aiming to increase pressure on the airline.

Following unsuccessful negotiations, the United Services Union (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft, ver.di) has called for Lufthansa’s ground-handling employees to strike for two days, ahead of the next round of negotiations between the union and the airline.

Failing to match demands

In its statement, ver.di urged Lufthansa’s ground-handling employees to strike, which would follow industrial action by employees at Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik. The strikes are scheduled for March 7 and March 8, with the union referring to them as "warning strikes."

Photo: Nate Hovee | Shutterstock

Ver.di explained that during the previous round of negotiations on February 21 and 22, Lufthansa Group only improved its offer in two areas, including an increase in the salary offer of 0.5%. The union’s primary demand has been a salary increase of at least 12.5%. As a result, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, and the next round of negotiations are scheduled for March 13 and March 14, around a week after ver.di’s planned labor action.

In a statement to Simple Flying, a Lufthansa Group spokesperson said that this was the latest escalation by the union in just a few days, with ver.di's four strikes now amounting to a total of 145 hours, adding that this was "significantly longer than the negotiation period."


"There have only been two real negotiation dates and the further date offered for today, Monday, has obviously been rejected with the current strike call. Verdi is affecting over 200,000 passengers with this strike – Lufthansa is working on a special flight plan."