2024-03-15 17:25:15
On Thursday evening, Verdi and Lufthansa announced that they wanted to agree on arbitration proceedings. The strikes could soon be over.
In the collective bargaining negotiations between Lufthansa and the service union Verdi for ground staff, the negotiating partners want to agree on an arbitration procedure. Lufthansa announced on Thursday evening that the arbitration process should begin as quickly as possible. There should be a peacekeeping obligation during the mediation.
According to the company, Lufthansa and Verdi were unable to agree on a new collective wage agreement for the approximately 20,000 employees on the ground as well as at Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Cargo and other companies in the most recent round of negotiations on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Together we want to clarify the open points”
Lufthansa Human Resources Director Michael Niggemann explained that the company had put forward numerous different variants and solutions in intensive discussions over the past two days and discussed them with Verdi. “We have come closer to a solution, but it has not yet been enough to reach a conclusion,” explained Niggemann and added: “Together we now want to clarify the open points with the help of mediation in order to then reach an agreement.” It was agreed not to disclose the content of the discussions and the variants discussed.
Last week, Verdi called on Lufthansa’s ground staff to go on a 60-hour strike, which meant the company was only able to offer around 10 to 20 percent of its flight program on Thursday and Friday.
The union is calling for a 12.5 percent increase in salaries for ground workers, but at least 500 euros per month for a period of twelve months. There will also be a one-off inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros.