Lufthansa Ground Crew Strike Will Disrupt 200K Passengers

Lufthansa, a German airline, is facing significant disruption as ground crews go on strike demanding better pay and working conditions.

Furthermore, Germany faces more travel disruptions as two unions, GDL and Ver.di, call for strikes over wages and working conditions. Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn, the German railway company, are amidst negotiations with ground staff and train drivers.

The strikes, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will affect around 200,000 air passengers, leading to the cancellation of approximately 1,000 flights per day. Train services, both long-distance and regional, will be impacted starting Thursday at 2 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, affecting millions of travelers. Freight transport will also be affected from Wednesday at 6 p.m. to Friday at 5 a.m. GDL demands a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 per week without a pay cut, which Deutsche Bahn opposes.

Ver.di seeks a 12.5% pay raise or a minimum increase of 500 euros ($542) per month for around 25,000 Lufthansa ground workers. These strikes coincide with contract negotiations, causing multiple disruptions across Germany’s rail, air, and local transport sectors.

The strike was called by the labor union Ver.di after unsuccessful negotiations with Lufthansa management. This strike comes on the heels of recent disruptions in the German transportation sector due to strikes by security staff and ground crews. Adding to the chaos is an ongoing strike by Deutsche Bahn AG workers.

Michael Niggemann, Lufthansa’s chief human resources officer, criticized Ver.di for the harm caused to the company and its customers. Despite four rounds of negotiations, no agreement has been reached. Ver.di demands an inflation bonus for ground staff on top of the 12.5% salary increase.

Lufthansa accuses Ver.di of deliberately escalating the situation rather than seeking a resolution. In response, the airline plans to implement a special flight plan during the 59-hour strike period.

The next negotiation meeting is scheduled for March 13 and 14, coinciding with Lufthansa’s upcoming earnings report.