In the tariff conflict at Lufthansa, Verdi is increasing the pressure. The ground staff are said to be on strike on Wednesday. This threatens further delays in the middle of the main travel season.
Update from July 25, 12:48 p.m.: Despite the bad news, there is also good news for Lufthansa passengers: despite the strike, passenger rights apply because Lufthansa is responsible for the refusal to work. Experts explain this to the Bild. So means:
- In the event of delays of more than three hours or cancellations, affected passengers are entitled to compensation
- If the delay is three hours or more, there is also a right to alternative transport
- If the delay is more than five hours, the airline must reimburse the full ticket price
- In the case of delays of more than two hours and a flight distance of more than 1500 kilometers, the airline must provide passengers with meals and drinks at the airport
First report from July 25, 10:20 a.m.: Berlin/Frankfurt – Verdi has called on around 20,000 Lufthansa ground staff to go on a one-day warning strike next Wednesday. This means that Lufthansa passengers have to prepare for increased flight cancellations and delays in the middle of the main travel season.
The ground staff include technicians for the maintenance of the aircraft or the drivers of the pushback vehicles, who push the jets back after handling.
Lufthansa: Verdi demands 9.5 percent more
Verdi had rejected an initial tariff offer from Lufthansa as “insufficient”, but agreed to continue negotiations in Frankfurt for August 3rd and 4th. According to union information, the company had offered fixed amounts and a result-related component for a period of 18 months during the negotiations.
The union, on the other hand, is demanding 9.5 percent more money in the wage tables for a 12-month term. With a term of 12 months, the lower wage groups should particularly benefit. The salary increase must be at least 350 euros. In addition, all hourly wages should be at least 13 euros and thus above the statutory minimum wage, which will increase to 12 euros an hour in October.
Lufthansa described the planned walkout as “unreasonable” for customers and employees. A work stoppage of this duration across all locations can hardly be described as a warning strike, said HR Director Michael Niggemann according to a statement. “This is all the more incomprehensible as employers have already offered high and socially balanced pay increases – despite the continued tense economic situation for Lufthansa after the Corona crisis, high debt burdens and uncertain prospects for the global economy.”
Lufthansa: wage adjustment overdue
In view of the overwork, the high inflation and a wage cut for three years, significant wage increases are justified, said the negotiator Christine Behle. She is Verdi Vice Chair and also Deputy Chair of the Lufthansa Supervisory Board. The situation at the airports is escalating, said Behle.
The overloading of employees due to a significant shortage of staff, high inflation and a three-year wage cut would put the employees under increasing pressure.
The warning strikes are scheduled to begin at 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday 27 July and last until 6 a.m. on Thursday 28 July. Just a few days ago, the pilots’ union Cockpit set the course for a possible strike at Lufthansa in August. Employees in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Bremen, Hanover, Stuttgart and Cologne are invited. (dpa/utz)
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