Lufthansa ground staff begin 3-day strike across Germany

For the third time in February, airport ground staff working for Lufthansa have begun strike action, which will last until March 1. Here’s what you should know:

Ver.di announces Lufthansa airport staff strike

Employees working for Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Aviation Training and Lufthansa Technical Training have begun a third round of strike action affecting airports in all German federal states.

However, unlike the strikes on February 1 and February 5, industrial action isn’t expected to affect passenger transport. The airline has said that any updates will be published on the Lufthansa app and that passengers are encouraged to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

Lufthansa and ver.di will return to the negotiating table on March 13

Announced just 12 hours before it was due to begin, Lufthansa has criticised ver.di for calling ground staff to strike at such short notice. The union is in the process of negotiating so that its members who are employed by Lufthansa receive a 12,5 percent increase in pay for 12 months, as well as a one-off payment of 3.000 euros to balance the consequences of inflation.

On the development of negotiations, a Lufthansa spokesperson said, "Last Thursday, Lufthansa took another big step towards the union and presented a new, even improved offer.” According to ver.di this improved offer included increasing the proposed pay rise to 2,5 percent and reducing the number of “Nullmonate” - the number of months between one collective bargaining agreement running out and the pay rise coming into effect - down from eight to an unknown amount.

The union said that Lufthansa is still far from meeting its core demands, a 12,5 percent pay rise or at least 500 euros more per month for employees. Ver.di representatives and Lufthansa bosses are set to return to the negotiating table on March 13 and 14.

Thumb image credit: Pradeep Thomas Thundiyil / Shutterstock.com