by Lufthansa Flyer | Jul 6, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
Earlier today in Germany, the union representing Lufthansa’s pilots has announced that recent mediation efforts have failed. Talks have broken down to such an extent that the union has threatened to strike despite its earlier commitment to not strike at least until the end of July while giving mediation efforts a chance to work.
The union has stated that no strike has yet been scheduled because it will be up to their committees to determine the exact timing and target of the strikes. I suspect that the first strikes can come as early as this week based on their posturing.
In the past, the union has usually given at least 24 hours warning prior to any work stoppage. Should a strike impact your travels, you will be able to easily rebook your tickets through LH, or request a refund of your fare.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 30, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
The union representing Lufthansa’s cabin crews today announced that enough progress has been made during negotiations that it warrants a deferral of potential strikes.
Originally, the union had given LH until June 30 to come up with an acceptable offer to avoid crews striking as early as July 1.
With this recent development, it appears that any threat of cabin crew strikes has been pushed back to July 15.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 22, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
The union representing over 19,000 of Lufthansa’s Cabin Crew has once again drawn a line in the sand with threats of new strikes.
Earlier today, the union announced that unless a labor deal is reached by June 30, Cabin Crews would go on strike beginning July 1. They also posed a veiled threat suggesting numerous daily strikes until September 16, designed intentionally to cripple LH during the very busy summer holiday travel season.
The core of the problem comes from a long-drawn out battle over retirement age and pension benefits. With interests so low, pension programs are under strain and Lufthansa simply wants their crews to contribute more to their retirement programs in order to preserve an early retirement age of 55.
The union thinks that the employees shouldn’t take on the increased responsibility for their own future but yet offer no constructive alternatives to their strategy of ‘gimmee, gimmee, gimmee’.
by Lufthansa Flyer | May 20, 2015 | Featured, Strike |
Earlier this week I had mentioned the potential for crippling ATC strikes throughout Europe that would have wreaked havoc with Air Travel in June and July. Fortunately, cooler heads have prevailed since that announcement and it now appears that the threat of strikes has been greatly diminished.
In an announcement today, several unions in Europe who represent ATC employees have indicated their willingness to continue negotiations. At the heart of the matter is the EU proposal that seeks to centralize Air Traffic Control under one EU umbrella rather than each country having its own ATC system. ATC workers fear that such a consolidation would lead to widespread job loss, which would most likely be the case should centralization take place.
For now, it seems that summer travel should be ‘safe’ since the LH pilot’s union has agreed to arbitration and it looks like ATC strike threat has abated as well.
Welcomed news just in time for my trip to the Austrian Grand Prix later in June!
by Lufthansa Flyer | May 13, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
In a positive development concerning the drawn out saga between Lufthansa and the Union that represents the majority of their pilots, both sides have agreed to enter arbitration in an attempt to resolve differences.
Details are yet to be revealed but it appears that the process should keep the threat of strikes away during the arbitration, perhaps putting off the threat of strikes well into late summer. This should come as good news to all those planning their summer Holidays.
However, there is a moderate threat of widespread Air Traffic Controller strikes throughout Europe during June.
Apparently, Air Traffic Controllers are ‘displeased’ at an EU proposal that would centralize ATC operations under one European umbrella vs. the current system where each country maintains air traffic control for its respective airspace. The big fear that controllers have is the potential for widespread job loss due to the centralization of ATC operations. A meeting of union members next week will determine if any strikes will be called during June.
