by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 20, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
Lufthansa unfortunately is battling labor issues on two fronts at the same time.
The more ‘popular’ of the two is the ongoing rift with the union that represents the majority of Lufthansa pilots, known as Vereingung Cockpit (VC). However another battle is being fought with UFO, who represents upwards of 18,000 cabin crew employees who are not pilots.
The latter battle, with UFO, appears to be making progress as both sides have agreed to meet for negotiations some time in mid-February following a vote of the membership that is taking place this month. The crux of the disagreements between Lufthansa and UFO revolves around 2 primary issues: Cabin crew pensions and how union-member employees will be treated as Lufthansa expands its Low Cost Carrier operations when it introduces WINGS this year.
It looks as though for now any strike threat from UFO is greatly diminished but the threat remains for VC to ask pilots to go on strike on relatively short notice.
More details as they become available……
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 15, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
The union representing the majority of Lufthansa’s pilots has once again suggesting that strike are imminent in the coming days and weeks.
Little progress has been made in settling a multi-pronged dispute that includes benefits for pilots who retire early as well as the union’s dissatisfaction with Lufthansa’s labor plans for their Low Cost Carrier operations including WINGS and germanwings.
The union has stated that it will meet with its membership in the near future to determine the timing of the next wave of strikes. Typically the union has given 24-48 hours of an upcoming walkout which gives little time for LH to respond. Fortunately Lufthansa has managed the process as well as be expected as it tries to minimize the impact that passengers would feel.
I’ll provide additional updates as this latest threat develops.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 15, 2015 | Business Class, Featured, Lufthansa, On Board Experience, Signature Service |
In October, I wrote about Lufthansa’s Business Class Signature Service and the testing the new concept was undergoing. For those of you unfamiliar with Signature Service, it is the idea where a Flight Attendant aboard a long haul flight would only be responsible for 8-12 Business Class passengers. The concept is designed to create more 1:1 interaction between flight crew and passengers and to deliver a highly personalized service.
For the past several months, LH has been testing Signature Service in a variety of markets as they continue to fine tune it ahead of a Summer 2015 introduction across the entire long haul network. Up until now, feedback has been positive and constructive and no changes to the launch are planned.
During this testing phase, LH has intentionally trialed the program in specific ‘cultural’ markets to determine adjustments that may be necessary due to cultural, dietary and ethnic needs. What I mean by this is that LH is not testing this just between the US and Germany and assume that it will work the same between Africa and Germany. Tests have been conducted on flights throughout the world.
To this end, the next phase of the Signature Service testing will take place on certain flights between Munich and Bombay, India during February. I don’t have information on exact dates of these flights and I believe LH likes to keep it random and not predictable during the testing phase. You’ll know Signature Services when you see it! 🙂
