After the strike by Lufthansa ground staff, which begins on March 7, 2024, the flight attendants could soon also stop work. The UFO union has announced that the cabin crew of Lufthansa and the regional subsidiary Cityline have almost unanimously voted for strike.

For around a week, the UFO members, who work as flight attendants for Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline, were called upon to take part in two separate ballots. According to union information, “the highest participation in a strike vote” was recorded at both companies. At Lufthansa, 96,28 percent were in favor of work stoppages and at CItyline, 97,84 percent.

“The high turnout in the ballot shows us that our members clearly agree with our demands and are prepared to enter into industrial action to achieve this. But it's not just our members who are ready: the entire cabin at Lufthansa and CityLine seems determined and combative; We could also see this in the numerous memberships,” says Joachim Vázquez Bürger, Chairman of the UFO Board of Directors.

Collective bargaining at both Lufthansa and its subsidiary Cityline is considered deadlocked. According to union information, management has not yet responded to the demands to the extent that employee representatives had hoped. A few years ago, Lufthansa flight operations were completely paralyzed for several days by a cabin crew strike organized by UFO. If this union calls for strike again, passengers must expect that there could be significant impacts on flight operations.

“Unfortunately, the negotiations with the Lufthansa Group have become deadlocked in both airlines in such a way that, in our opinion, we have no other option than to let our members vote on strike as a last resort,” explains Harry Jaeger, head of collective bargaining policy at UFO and negotiator at Lufthansa.

The UFO union emphasizes that they are now waiting for the reaction of the management of Lufthansa and Cityline to the voting results. At the same time, it is emphasized that various strike scenarios are being examined and, if necessary, prepared. UFO will inform you about this “shortly”.

“In times when our voices are not heard, we must let our actions speak. That's why the cabin has made a very clear decision to take to the streets and make their voices heard resolutely. We remain open to appropriate offers and fair solutions from the employer in order to possibly avert strikes in the short term,” said Vázquez Bürger.