More strikes
March 22, 2010
As a result of failed talks with Lufthansa management, the Cockpit Association (VC) union has announced renewed strike action in April. It would be the second pilots' strike at Lufthansa this year.
A costly four-day work stoppage in February was called off after one day when both sides agreed to return to the negotiating table. The Cockpit Association objects to efforts at Lufthansa to shift work to wholly owned subsidiaries with lower pay scales, such as Lufthansa Italia, based in Milan, Italy.
The airline's chief labor negotiator and head of passenger airlines, Roland Busch, said the airline must avoid any cost increases as the recession has hit passenger and cargo sales. He added that the company had offered to guarantee every pilot's job till 2012.
"In the interest of all Lufthansa employees we must make sure that we have competitive structures," Busch said. "That is why we need to do everything we can to avoid cost increases."
Lufthansa had made an offer that included a pay freeze this year in exchange for job guarantees.
But the union, which represents most of the 4,500 pilots employed at the Lufthansa parent company, at Lufthansa Cargo and at Germanwings, has said it would only accept a pay freeze in return for further concessions on job security.
In a similar action, cabin crews at British Airways started a three-day strike on Saturday over pay and working conditions. The BA workers are due to return to work on Tuesday. They have offered to resume talks with the company to settle a dispute that has become a political issue for a ruling Labour Party that faces a general election in June.
db/Reuters/dpa
Editor: Ben Knight