Verdi is intensifying the planned warning strike in air traffic. In parallel to the strike by Lufthansa ground staff, the union is also calling on aviation security forces in Frankfurt and Hamburg to stop work on Thursday.
In addition to the Lufthansa ground staff, the aviation security forces in Frankfurt and Hamburg are also to stop work, as the union announced on Tuesday in Berlin.
This means that passengers will probably not be able to enter these airports from outside. The employees are employed by private companies that check passengers, staff and luggage at the entrances to the security area on behalf of the Federal Police. The aviation security forces are only scheduled to strike on Thursday.
Ground staff are on strike on Thursday and Friday
The Verdi union had previously called on all Lufthansa ground staff to go on strike on Thursday and Friday. It is scheduled to begin in the “passenger-close areas” on Thursday at 4 a.m. and end on Saturday at 7:10 a.m. There will be a strike in the technical areas from Wednesday evening.
According to the company, more than 200,000 passengers are affected, mainly at the airports in Frankfurt and Munich. You have to be prepared for delays and cancellations.
Around 1,190 flights canceled
Lufthansa spoke of a “next escalation within a few days”. According to the airline’s estimate on Tuesday, around 1,000 flights nationwide will be canceled on Thursday and Friday. The airline is trying to maintain 10 to 20 percent of its usual flight offerings.
According to the Lufthansa flight schedule, around 1,190 flights will be canceled at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday and Friday – that corresponds to around 90 percent of the connections. Lufthansa canceled around 560 take-offs and landings for Thursday and around 630 for Friday. In addition, there were around 20 canceled Lufthansa flights before the strike began on Wednesday afternoon and evening. It was not initially clear in the flight plan how many would be canceled on Saturday.
Last strike without flight cancellations
In the ongoing collective bargaining dispute for around 25,000 ground workers, there have already been two waves of warning strikes, each of which paralyzed passenger traffic for around a day.
Last week, Verdi went on strike at Lufthansa parts of the company’s technology and cargo handling departments in order to force an improved offer from the company. Travelers were spared from the strike.
Union regrets impact on passengers
Verdi negotiator Marvin Reschinsky regretted the impact on passengers in a statement. “In the past few days we have deliberately skipped passenger traffic with our strikes. However, by ignoring our call for negotiations, Lufthansa is telling us that it will only move if the pressure continues to increase.” There is an “urgent need for solutions and reliability” for passengers.
Verdi had demanded 12.5 percent more money and an inflation compensation bonus with a term of one year. Lufthansa has so far offered 10 percent higher salaries for a 28-month contract. The next round is scheduled for March 13th and 14th. Verdi is only willing to hold earlier discussions if the offer is increased.
The airline had recently expressed its outrage at the continued warning strikes and particularly criticized Verdi’s preconditions for returning to the negotiating table. The group therefore questioned the collective bargaining as a whole.
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