Lufthansa cancelled more than 500 flights after German union Verdi called on 33 000 workers at the company to go on strike yesterday (Thursday) over a wage dispute, according to a Reuters report carried by CNBC – the US satellite and cable television business news channel.
The strike lasted for about five hours, setting the stage for the next round of wage talks today.
In negotiations that started last month, Verdi is demanding a 5.2% increase in wages for 12 months for employees at Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Systems, catering unit LSG Sky Chefs and ground crews, as well as a commitment by Lufthansa to safeguard jobs.
Lufthansa, Europe’s biggest airline by revenue, has said it wants to freeze pay and ask employees to work one hour more each week to help it to remain competitive in a tough market. Verdi called that counter-demand a “provocation” and called on Lufthansa to make a new offer.
Most of the 514 cancelled flights were to German and European destinations. It has affected operations across Germany, though Hamburg and the airline’s main hub in Frankfurt are most affected, the union said. Lufthansa said it aimed to get most intercontinental flights off the ground despite the strike.
