The passengers of the Lufthansa must prepare for the possibility of Pilot strikes set. The Union Association Cockpit (VC) announced that a clear majority of the voting members in a Ballot for one labor dispute This is the first Strike decision since the one-day Strike of the pilots in 2022.
At the core of the collective bargaining dispute stand the Company pensions of the approximately 4.800 Female pilots and pilots is Lufthansa and lufthansa Cargo. VC calls for a clear increase des Employer contribution to retirement, the the Lufthansa Management due to the Remedial measures In addition, the Board’s affirmed Corporate strategy, Short and medium-haul flights in cheaper Group companies, the internal conflict.
Clear majority for labor dispute
The Ballot is Association cockpit provided a clear result: 88 percent of Lufthansa pilots and 96 percent of Lufthansa Cargo pilots, at a Participation of 90 and 95 percent respectively, spoke in favor of a labor dispute out. According to VC President Andreas Pinheiro be this a “strong signal of unity” is workforce. For the acceptance of the Ballot were at least 70 percent Yes votes of the affected members in the respective companies.
A specific strike date was not initially mentioned. Further details Agenda should the tariff commission is Labor union In the past, a comprehensive pilot strike in the Lufthansa regularly to Cancellation almost the entire Flight program in the affected period, which resulted in massive effects on Air traffic in Germany and Europe may have.
retirement as bone of contention
The immediate Occasion for the impending Strike is the labor dispute to the company pension scheme is pilots. VC was originally intended to demand a tripling des Employer contribution into Negotiations which took place over the course of seven roundtables was reduced, but without any agreement could be achieved.
The spokesman of the tariff commission, Arne Karstens, emphasized the existential meaning is retirement for the professional group: "Pension provision is a central foundation of life planning for pilots – at least as important as the statutory pension." The Labor union demands from the Lufthansa now a “negotiable offer”.
The Lufthansa core company itself, however, is in a tough restructuring program. CEO Jens Ritter had declared, simply no funds to Increase is occupational pension to have which he considered “already very good” designated.
The current Company pension system was in 2017 by agreement between the Lufthansa and VC Since then, the Lufthansa no longer the absolute pension amount guarantee, but only provides predetermined contributions. The Interest rate risk and Investment risk are therefore on the pilots similar to other professional groups in the Group. The VC admitted that the jointly selected Capital investments have performed worse than expected. However, Lufthansa pilots im Quiet reportedly on monthly company pensions of over 8.000 Euro count, in addition to statutory pension.
Centralization strategy exacerbates the conflict
In addition to Pension question fuels the recent Lufthansa Executive Board across from Investors affirmed Corporate strategy the internal conflictThis strategy envisages the Short and medium-haul flights is Lufthansa gradually into other Group companies with significantly lower wage costs The aim is to shift around half the corresponding Fleet from external Flight operations outside of Lufthansa Kerns For this purpose, the subsidiaries Discover and City Airlines founded.
This strategic decision threatens the Jobs and Tariff standards is pilots in the Lufthansa-core society, which is why the VC as well as those Flight attendant-Representation UFO the internal Although it is the Unions Sea German labor law not permitted to strategic corporate decisions zu strike, since these are not Subject of collective agreements However, the Strategy to a massive hardening is fronts and influences the Willingness to negotiate in the tariff-related areas.
Human Resources Director Michael Niggemann welcomed the announcement is VC, further negotiate to want, but emphasized that the Ballot the Scope for design I have not enlarged the possible Solutions would have to deal with the economic performance is Lufthansa compatible stay.