Expected Flight Disruptions As German Ground Staff Strike

Germany faces aviation disruptions as the Verdi union calls for a fresh round of strikes among Lufthansa ground staff, adding pressure ahead of upcoming negotiations. Scheduled for March 7 and 8, the strike is expected to impact passenger services from 4 a.m. Thursday to 7:10 a.m. Saturday.

Representing around 25,000 employees, Verdi is demanding substantial pay raises, seeking a 12% increase or a minimum of €500 per month. Despite Lufthansa’s apparent financial strength, the union accuses the airline of insufficient responses to these demands.

Read more: Thailand Requests German Backing For Visa-Free EU travel

Previous strikes on February 20 and 28 resulted in significant flight cancellations, affecting around 100,000 passengers. Lufthansa argues that Verdi’s demands are unreasonable, offering a 10% salary increase over 28 months, while the union insists on 12.5% plus inflation compensation for a one-year term.

These strikes add to a series of labor actions across Germany, reflecting workers’ concerns about inflationary pressures intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ongoing standoff between Verdi and Lufthansa raises broader economic implications. Scheduled for March 13 and 14, the upcoming negotiations mark the fifth round amidst the dispute. Verdi has made it clear that it will not resume negotiations unless Lufthansa offers an improved proposal in advance, a stance criticized by the airline, which proposed talks for Monday, March 4.