Following a strike call, Lufthansa confirms negotiations with the pilot union.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and the union will be the subject of intense time pressured collective bargaining negotiations on Tuesday. The strike call announced tonight means that today at 12:00 a decision must be made regarding the strike-related flight cancellations for Wednesday and Thursday. This is essential for staff and aircraft scheduling, as well as for giving affected passengers at least a brief heads-up.

In the event of a strike on 7 and 8 September, massive effects on Lufthansa’s flight operations are again to be expected.

At Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Michael Niggemann, the company’s labour director and chief human resources officer, said: “Although a negotiation date has been set, it is disappointing that this pay conflict has not subsided. For this strategy, we have no comprehension. We know that our pilots would much rather fly than strike, therefore taking an escalation-based approach is incorrect as well. However, despite the short moment of time, we will do every effort to be successful with an improved offer.”

After the Vereinigung Cockpit collective bargaining demand was changed last Friday as a result of a ruling by the Munich labor court, the union will present the new demand for the first time today. The previous demand for automated inflation compensation has been replaced by a demand for an annual pay increase of 8.2 percent starting in 2023 – in addition to a 5.5 percent increase this year. The union’s list of demands contains a total of 16 individual points.

Lufthansa will make an improved offer today. So far, an increase of 500 euros on 1 September 2022, and 400 euros on 1 April 2023, have been offered.