Strike Lufthansa Thursday and Friday

German airline Lufthansa’s ground staff will strike on Thursday and Friday. The strike, part of an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions, is expected to affect 200,000 passengers.

This strike follows two previous waves of strikes in the ongoing wage dispute, involving around 25,000 ground staff. Each strike has paralysed passenger traffic for about one day.

Lufthansa also went on strike last week

Trade union Verdi organised strikes in Lufthansa’s technical and cargo handling departments earlier last week to force the company to make an improved offer.

The union is demanding 12.5% more pay and a one-year inflation compensation bonus.

So far, Lufthansa has offered a 10% wage increase for 28 months. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for 13 and 14 March. Verdi has indicated its willingness to negotiate earlier only if an improved offer is made.

Lufthansa has expressed its outrage at the ongoing strikes and criticised verdi’s conditions for resuming negotiations in particular, prompting it to question the entire wage negotiation process.

In a statement, Verdi negotiator Marvin Reschinsky lamented the impact on passengers:

“In recent days, we have deliberately left passenger traffic out of our strikes. However, by ignoring our requests to negotiate, Lufthansa is signalling to us that it will only move if the pressure increases further. Passengers urgently need solutions and reliability; the staff and we are ready to provide this with a serious offer.”

Right to compensation

If your flight is cancelled because of this strike, Lufthansa must offer you the choice between a replacement flight, or your money back.

You have even more rights, as you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600! The amount depends on the distance of the flight.