The Lufthansa labor dispute is entering a new phase of intensity, as the UFO cabin crew union has called for a 24-hour strike on Friday, affecting critical routes of the German airline.
The strike affects Lufthansa’s main brand and its subsidiary Cityline, starting at midnight and lasting until 22:00 local time. According to the union, all departures from the country’s two largest airports, Frankfurt and Munich, are expected to be affected, while Cityline crews are also expected to participate at nine other German airports.
The decision to strike was made after a vote at the end of March, where the vast majority of workers voted in favor of escalation, following the stalemate in negotiations with management. The focus is on the working conditions for approximately 19,000 employees, as well as the compensation package for approximately 800 Cityline employees, which is in the process of being gradually shut down.
The head of UFO, Joachim W. Burger, accused Lufthansa of being inflexible, claiming that no proposal has been submitted that could serve as a basis for negotiations. Among the main demands are more predictable schedules and timely updates for crews about their shifts.
Lufthansa, on the other hand, called on the union to return to the negotiating table, while apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the strike, which it described as disproportionate and with minimal notice.
The new mobilization is the third in two months, following the strikes in February and March, which led to mass flight cancellations. The dispute remains open, with the risk of new turbulence in air transport remaining a possibility.
Source: Reuters
