Another strike averted
Lufthansa and Verdi agree collective bargaining agreement on ground staff
8/4/2022 9:34 p.m
Another labor dispute – at least by ground staff – in the middle of the holiday season is off the table: Lufthansa and the Verdi union agree on a wage increase for around 20,000 employees. The negotiating partners are satisfied.
Lufthansa and the Verdi union have agreed on a wage increase for around 20,000 airline employees on the ground. Noticeable salary increases were agreed, which are disproportionately high for the lower salary brackets. This was announced by Lufthansa.
At Lufthansa, there will therefore not be another strike by employees at check-in or in the handling of aircraft. A one-day strike had triggered more than 1,000 flight cancellations at the Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt am Main and Munich in the past week. And that in the middle of the high season, which already demands a lot of patience from travelers due to disruptions to airport operations due to staff shortages in Europe.
After two years of waiver due to the Corona crisis, the agreement provides for a wage increase of 200 euros per month from July 1, 2022. From January 1, 2023, wages will increase by 2.5 percent, but at least 125 euros. And from July 1, 2023 another 2.5 percent. The new collective agreement is to have a term of 18 months. The Verdi members still have to agree to the agreement in a survey.
Verdi Vice President Christine Behle spoke of a “good result”. It means a monthly increase of at least 377 euros up to 498 euros across all employment groups. Lufthansa Chief Human Resources Officer Michael Niggemann explained: “We have agreed on large salary increases.” He emphasized: “We are pleased that we have been able to find a good solution with the social partners.”
Strike risk not yet completely averted
The hourly wage in the lower salary groups will be 13 euros above the statutory minimum wage from October 1st. An employee at the check-in, for example, earns 13.6 to 18.4 percent more, depending on the length of service, explained Verdi. The result means a real wage increase. “This result, which makes Lufthansa more attractive as an employer, can also relieve the burden,” added Behle.
Lufthansa put the increase in gross basic salary at 8.3 percent with a monthly salary of 6,500 euros and at 19.2 percent with a salary of 2,000 euros. Verdi accommodated the employer with the contract period – it is 18 months instead of the required 12 months.
The risk of a strike at Lufthansa has not yet been completely eliminated. Collective bargaining with the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union has recently stalled, so that last weekend the VC members almost unanimously voted in favor of a strike. However, the union left the door open to reach an agreement at the negotiating table and avoid a strike.
With regard to the negotiations with the cockpit and cabin, HR manager Niggemann confirmed the willingness of the Lufthansa management to reach an agreement. He is confident that good solutions can also be achieved here. The pilots are demanding 5.5 percent more money, which Lufthansa is willing to pay. However, demands for the structure of the collective agreement are also on the agenda. The bargaining parties are still far apart. Talks will continue next week.