Two experienced mediators will help resolve the collective bargaining dispute among Lufthansa ground staff. The company and ver.di named Thuringia’s Prime Minister Ramelow and ex-employment agency boss Weise.
Lufthansa and ver.di have appointed arbitrators in the collective bargaining dispute over more money for ground staff. The aviation company nominated the former head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise; The union named the Thuringian Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, as both sides announced. An arbitration agreement is being sought, but it has not yet been signed. The process to resolve the collective bargaining dispute is scheduled to begin on March 25th and end on March 28th at the latest.
“During the mediation there is an obligation to make peace,” each of the conflicting parties explained. This means that further strikes are initially ruled out. However, Ver.di is holding a strike vote among its members, which could then “quickly” pave the way for a labor dispute after the end of this vote. “If the arbitration does not produce a result that the employees can agree to, it can be assumed that there will be forced strikes,” said ver.di negotiator Marvin Reschinsky.
Union criticizes Lufthansa’s previous offer
Reschinsky declared the negotiations to have failed after the fifth round of talks and offered mediation. According to his criticism, Lufthansa did not improve its offer during the last two days of negotiations. The company offered a ten percent tariff increase with a 28-month term in addition to an inflation bonus. Ver.di is demanding 12.5 percent more money for the approximately 25,000 employees on the ground, but at least 500 euros, for a term of twelve months.
The employees had stopped work several times in recent weeks to put the company under pressure. The majority of Lufthansa flights were canceled, meaning around 100,000 travelers had to change their plans each time.
The left-wing politician Ramelow and ex-employment agency boss Weise have experience in resolving collective bargaining disputes. Ramelow settled the collective bargaining disputes with the train drivers’ union GDL at the railway in 2015 and 2017. Weise was involved in resolving the conflict between Lufthansa and the UFO cabin union in 2019/2020.