German labour union calls on Lufthansa ground staff to strike today

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The German trade union ver.di, representing approximately 25,000 Lufthansa employees, has announced a strike set to take place from 04:00 on Tuesday to 07:10 on Wednesday. The strike, involving ground employees, comes as a response to unsuccessful negotiations regarding salary increases and compensation for inflation effects.

Salary Proposal and Union's Demands

Lufthansa's management has proposed a two-stage increase for 2024 and 2025, offering a 4% raise in December 2024 and a subsequent 5.5% increase in February 2025. However, ver.di is pushing for a more substantial 12.5% salary increase, along with an immediate  boost of at least 500 euros. Additionally, the union is demanding a 3,000 euro inflation compensation bonus.

Impact on Air Travel

The strike is poised to have a significant impact on major German airports, including Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne-Bonn, and Stuttgart. Lufthansa, anticipating disruptions, has devised new flight plans to minimize the inconvenience for passengers.

One of the core issues fueling the dispute is the perceived disparity in salary increases among Lufthansa employees. Notably, pilots secured a 17% raise in August after a prolonged strike, further intensifying tensions within the workforce. Adding to the turmoil, pilots from Discover Airlines, the leisure subsidiary of the Lufthansa group, have initiated a separate strike from Saturday to Monday. Their demands center around the introduction of a fair salary scale and regulations governing flight missions and rest times.

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