Ground staff at Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, will strike in the latest industrial action in the country.
The Verdi union has announced that ground staff at Lufthansa Airlines, Germany’s flag carrier, will initiate a strike on Wednesday, adding to the recent surge of labour unrest in the country’s transportation sector as workers demand higher wages.
According to the union’s statement, the strike is scheduled to commence at 4 a.m. and conclude at 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, lasting 27 hours.
Lufthansa has warned that up to 90 per cent of its flight schedule will be cancelled, as reported by Source. Bloomberg estimates that the strike will affect approximately 100,000 passengers.
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The industrial action will impact airports in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, and Dusseldorf.
Germany, the largest economy in Europe, has witnessed a series of nationwide strikes affecting air travel, railways, and public transportation.
A spokesperson for Lufthansa mentioned that it is too early to determine the exact number of flight cancellations. The airline has devised an emergency timetable to assess the potential impact on its 3,000 daily flights, as reported by the Sources.
In a caution to passengers, Lufthansa stated, “Due to the strike, we currently assume that around 10 to 20 per cent of the Lufthansa airline program will be possible.” It added, “Please only come to the airport if your flight has not been cancelled,” noting that rebooking counters will be closed as well.
Ground services are among the various sectors within Lufthansa presently engaged in collective bargaining discussions.
In negotiations regarding contracts for ground staff, Verdi is pushing for a wage hike of 12.5 per cent for 25,000 employees, or a minimum increase of 500 euros ($544.30) monthly over 12 months, along with a one-time payment of 3,000 euros to counteract inflation.
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The airline has proposed raises for workers amounting to over 13 per cent within the next three years, along with immediate disbursement of substantial inflation bonuses, as reported by Source. However, the union has dismissed the offer as “completely unacceptable.” The union argues that a rise in the cost of living and increased workload due to staff shortages justify higher compensation.
Last Thursday, Verdi called a one-day strike among security personnel at most of Germany’s major airports, resulting in widespread flight cancellations.
On Friday, it organized a walkout, leading to the cancellation of local buses, trams, and subway trains across much of Germany. These brief “warning strikes” lasting several hours or a single day are a typical strategy employed in German contract negotiations.
In July 2022, Lufthansa ground staff went on strike during the prior round of collective bargaining talks, causing significant disruptions in travel.
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