The Lufthansa management has invited three unions for talks on Monday. The Independent Flight Attendant Organization canceled their participation and pointed out in a press release that they cannot be turned into a fig leaf.

“Since the highly acclaimed conclusion of our crisis and protection package in June, we have been publicly cited as an example of successful crisis collective bargaining agreements. However, since it was signed, the group has ignored any attempt to tackle the surplus of personnel in a socially responsible and joint manner. The appointment next Monday suggests a situation that does not exist, because the employees are seen more as opponents than as allies. There is no willingness to develop common strategies. Breach of word against Germanwings and SunExpress with hard downsizing are an expression of the opposite of a responsible and cooperative approach, especially if at the same time people are hired for a measly wage in the Ocean project. We will no longer allow ourselves to be abused as a fig leaf of a functioning relationship with one another, ”explains Daniel Flohr, UFO chairman.

“For four months there have been no more substantive discussions between Lufthansa and UFO, although the need for action is great and urgent. The staff overhang in the parent company is neglected, all of our suggestions are simply ignored. The attitude of management towards its employees and their representation has unfortunately not changed at all compared to the time before the crisis. On the other hand, UFO has shown that it is capable of solving and shaping the situation, especially in times of crisis, something we have been demanding from management for a long time, ”says Nicoley Baublies, UFO negotiator for Lufthansa.

“We do not refuse to hold talks to address the issues in the cabin. We even ask for this explicitly. But in a room with the other unions, we don't allow ourselves to be made into a functioning social partnership, for example, which in truth doesn't exist, ”concluded Flohr.