The Verdi union has once again emerged as the strongest employee representative in the recent works council elections within the Lufthansa Group. According to official figures, the organization secured a total of 255 mandates in over 45 different companies within the airline group.
The election results were particularly strong in the core areas of ground and technical services, including Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Cargo, and the IT service providers of Lufthansa Systems. These results underscore the union's strong support within the company's logistics and technical base units, which are crucial for daily flight operations.
Beyond the traditional ground operations, Verdi also recorded significant gains among flight crews, which is seen as an important signal within the industry. At the newly founded subsidiary Lufthansa City Airlines, lists affiliated with Verdi won an impressive 84,6 percent of the seats. Majorities were also secured among the employee representatives of Discover Airlines and within the cabin crews of Eurowings. This development is noteworthy because professional unions such as Vereinigung Cockpit and UFO traditionally compete for influence in the cockpit and cabin crew sectors. Verdi's strengthening in these segments suggests a consolidation of employee interests under a larger umbrella organization.
Further research into the corporate structure confirms that the elections took place against the backdrop of intense wage negotiations that dominated the first half of 2026. The high voter turnout in many divisions is interpreted as a reaction from the workforce to the recent restructuring and efficiency programs implemented by the Executive Board. By securing numerous supervisory board and works council seats, the union is strengthening its negotiating position for future wage negotiations. The Lufthansa Group, which employs over 100.000 people worldwide, thus faces a continued strong and well-organized workforce, particularly in maintenance and training facilities such as Lufthansa Aviation Training, which presents a united front.
The election results also have implications for company-wide co-determination. Thanks to the large number of mandates won, Verdi holds key positions on the central works councils, increasing its influence on strategic management decisions such as fleet planning and site expansions. Aviation industry observers point out that the clear majority won by Verdi in newly founded airlines like City Airlines represents a strategic victory for the union, enabling it to enforce uniform standards across the Lufthansa Group's diversified brand landscape. The coming months will show how this regained strength translates into concrete collective bargaining agreements and working conditions for the various professional groups.