Lufthansa Pilots Reject Pay Offer: Strike Action Could Follow
BY
STEVEN WALKER
PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
The trade union VC confirmed that its pilots had rejected Thursday’s pay offer from Lufthansa. Does this mean that strike action is imminent?
German pilot trade union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) announced on Thursday that its members at
Lufthansa had rejected a pay offer by the carrier, paving the way for potential
strike action at any time if an agreement is not reached.
Last month, Lufthansa’s pilots voted overwhelmingly
in favor of industrial action, with 97.6% of VC members supporting a strike. Lufthansa had hoped its latest offer, put to the union on Thursday morning, would put an end to the dispute.
According to VC, although the latest offer from Lufthansa was “a step in the right direction,” it was not enough to avoid industrial action.
Pilot trade union VC has rejected Lufthansa's latest pay offer. Photo:
Kambui via Wikimedia Commons
What is VC seeking for Lufthansa’s pilots?
VC is demanding a pay increase of 5.5% this year for Lufthansa’s pilots, followed by further automatic rises in line with inflation thereafter.
The union also wants uniform pay structures for all staff members at the
Lufthansa Group’s airlines. This includes
Eurowings, whose own pilots are in the midst of a strike ballot, due to end on August 31st.
What happens next?
Lufthansa has stated that following the rejection of its latest offer, it remains open to further discussions. A spokesperson for the airline said,
“We want to discuss the flexible form of this offer with the VC and have therefore proposed further dates to the union to hold talks. We are available to continue talks at any time.”
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VC also confirmed its next steps, stating,
"The legal and organizational preparations for strike action have been initiated.”
VC is asking for a 5.5% pay increase for its pilots this year, followed by increases in line with inflation thereafter. Photo: Lufthansa
Strike action continues worldwide
The news comes just weeks after the carrier’s ground staff went on strike, leading to the cancelation of over 1,000 flights. The strike at the end of July came after Lufthansa rejected calls from the trade union Verdi for a pay increase of 9.5%
The industrial action caused disruption for over 134,000 passengers, but by the start of August, Verdi and Lufthansa had
reached an agreement, with two 2.5% pay increases planned over the coming year.
Many airlines have faced threats of industrial action this summer, with rampant inflation being the main catalyst behind calls for improved pay conditions. Last week,
Iberia Express cabin crew warned of a possible
ten-day strike, and pilots at Romania’s TAROM have warned of
potential strike action next week.
Lufthansa has a wide-reaching route network, meaning that any strike action could have a significant impact. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
It remains to be seen whether Lufthansa will be able to avert strike action by its pilots. With its route network spanning over 200 destinations across five continents, strike action by the airline’s pilots could lead to disruption for hundreds of thousands of passengers worldwide.
The impact of any strike would be particularly felt in Europe and North America, where the airline has a significant presence. From its hubs at
Frankfurt Airport and
Munich Airport, the airline flies to over 20 destinations in North America alone.