The warning strike by Lufthansa ground staff has ended. But passengers still have to expect cancellations and delays. The ver.di union is now pushing for a solution at the negotiating table.
Ver.di has ended its 27-hour warning strike among Lufthansa ground staff. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the union. The strike that began on Wednesday morning also led to some flight cancellations early on Thursday morning.
After up to 900 flight cancellations the day before, the airline initially canceled around 30 departures at its Frankfurt and Munich hubs for Thursday morning. Normal operations should return to normal by Friday at the latest. According to ver.di, around 7,000 people took part in the warning strikes at the Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Berlin locations.
Threat of longer strikes
Negotiator Marvin Reschinsky threatened Lufthansa with longer strikes. “We would like to find a solution at the negotiating table,” he also told Bayerischer Rundfunk. “It’s now up to Lufthansa to come to the end with a good offer.” If there is no breakthrough in collective bargaining, ver.di could go on strike for longer, even with less notice.
In the collective bargaining dispute, ver.di is demanding 12.5 percent more salary, but at least 500 euros per month for a term of one year. There will also be a group-wide inflation bonus of 3,000 euros. Lufthansa has offered 13 percent more money and an inflation bonus for a period of three years. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for February 12th.