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Significant increase in wages:
Lufthansa ground staff no longer have to go on strike
Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa
The dispute over tariffs for Lufthansa ground staff has been settled.
Lufthansa and the Verdi union agreed on Thursday evening on higher wages for the approximately 20,000 ground workers, thereby averting further strikes in summer travel.
Noticeable salary increases had been agreed, Lufthansa announced after the third round of negotiations.
"It was important to us to give disproportionate consideration to the lower and middle income groups," explained Michael Niggemann, HR director at Lufthansa.
At Lufthansa, there will therefore not be another strike by employees at check-in or in the handling of aircraft.
"This is a good result, which means a monthly increase of at least 377 euros up to 498 euros across all employee groups," emphasized the deputy Verdi boss and negotiator Christine Behle.
The group's Verdi collective bargaining committee has already approved the outcome of the negotiations, which still has to find a majority in a member survey.
A one-day strike had triggered more than 1,000 flight cancellations at the Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt and Munich in the past week.
And that in the middle of the high season, which already demands a lot of patience from travelers due to disruptions to airport operations due to staff shortages in Europe.
In view of the tense personnel situation, the union currently has a strong negotiating position.
According to its own statements, Verdi achieved tariff increases of up to 26 percent with ground handling service providers.
The companies are currently having major problems finding new employees and must therefore offer better conditions.
Almost a fifth more basic wage for some wage groups
After two years of waivers and losses due to the Corona crisis, the agreement for the ground staff provides for a wage increase of 200 euros per month from July 1, 2022.
From January 1, 2023, wages will increase by 2.5 percent and at least 125 euros.
From July 1, 2023, the basic salary will increase again by 2.5 percent.
The hourly wage in the lower salary groups will be 13 euros above the statutory minimum wage from October 1st.
An employee at the check-in, for example, earns 13.6 to 18.4 percent more, depending on the length of service, explained Verdi.
The result means a real wage increase.
"This result, which makes Lufthansa more attractive as an employer, can also relieve the burden," added Behle.
Lufthansa put the increase in gross basic salary at 8.3 percent with a monthly salary of 6,500 euros and at 19.2 percent with a salary of 2,000 euros.
Verdi accommodated the employer with the contract period - it is 18 months instead of the required twelve months.
The risk of a strike at Lufthansa has not yet been completely eliminated.
Collective bargaining with the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union has recently stalled, so that last weekend the VC members almost unanimously voted in favor of a strike.
However, the union left the door open to reach an agreement at the negotiating table and avoid a strike.
With regard to the negotiations with the cockpit and cabin, HR manager Niggemann confirmed the willingness of the Lufthansa management to reach an agreement.
He is confident that good solutions can also be achieved here.
The pilots are demanding 5.5 percent more money, which Lufthansa is willing to pay.
However, demands for the structure of the collective agreement are also on the agenda.
The bargaining parties are still far apart.
Talks will continue next week.
la/reuters
