Lufthansa Pilots Strike Planned for April 13-16, 2010
 

I wonder if any of our German Fodorites could shed some local light on this proposed follow-up to the February (4 days planned but only 1 day spent off the job) strike.

This is not good news, I would think, for someone scheduled to land at FRA at 07:00 on April 17 (not Lufthansa) for a connecting flight to FLR (Lufthansa).

Even worse - that someone is me.

I have Googled up the brief news articles from late last week that outline the proposed job action, but I imagine there is much more news on it in der Sprache Deutsch und aus Deutschland.

Anyone?

The situation is still unclear.

The conflict basically arises from the various acquisitions Lufthansa has executed over the previous years (Swiss, SN Brussels, Austrian Airlines, BMI).

As a result from the integration of these airlines Lufthansa can exercise pressure on its core German operation and employees with regards to wages as costs in all of the acquired units can be aggressively cut due to the restructuring need in all of them (Swiss has been very successful after its restructuring under LHA, but probably to some extent has been profiting from diverting customers within the group, ie. from LH to LX and to such extent the advantage gained over competitors would amount to 0).

LH, while still producing significantly positive EBITDA, was net loss making for the first time in a long period during the crisis in 2009 and argues it needs to cut its German cost base. It German employees reject the cost cuts arguing they are no longer willing to cross-fund the acquisitions of restructuring cases.

Thus far negotiations between the pilots' union and LH have failed after an initial settlement in February was broken up again.

Reportedly LH management favours to call in an impartial arbitrator (they once did that successfully in 2001) to find a compromise between the parties. The unions are not aware yet of any nominee for the arbitrator position and have been sceptical as a compromise is complex to find due as it would not only involve an agreement on wages, but also concern corporate policy of competition among group airlines.

So far all you can do is wait and see, it appears.

So far, it is nothing but a threat. There is still time for negotiations. Nobody knows if they will really go on strike and if they do, when. The good news (however not for you) was that an eventual strike would not start before April 13.

IF they strike, the domestic destinations will be affected hardest.

The only advice that I can give is that you watch the media and Lufthansa's website carefully the days prior your flight. Usually they offer alternatives if a flight is cancelled or heavily delayed. (Last time, for the domestic destinations, they offered to use the train instead of flying.)

Or go on the safe side and look for an alternative yourself.

We are due to fly the 15th and can't get a reschedule to a different date because our "flight currently shows scheduled", so Luthansa makes us wait until we get official notification...by that time, I figure there won't be seats available. Keeping our fingers crossed it gets settled or delayed indefinitely.

Update:
Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported yesterday late afternoon that the pilot's union is likely to agree to a proposal by Lufthansa management according to which:

- negotiations about wages should be separated from talks on coprorate strategy (pilots of which airline of the group get to fly which planes on which route at which levels of pay)

- both parties have until end of September to settle their negtiations on the group-wide framework agreement on wages.

- Should the parties not be able to settle until the end of September, a mediator should be consulted to produce a compromise by year end.

According to Sueddeutsche, the union was likely to accept that proposal yesterday night (also in light of LH threatening to claim EUR 48 mm in damages from the first strike this year in the event of a second strike).

On a negative note this morning the pilot's union webpage does not feature any update vs. its release of 22 March whereby they intend to strike from 13 April - 16 April 2010.

Check out www.easytravelreport.com/
which is always updating their site with the latest strike info all over the world (including UK trains, etc.
Fingers crossed for your safe (and stress free) travel!

Thank you hsv.

I appreciate the ongoing updates.

Fingers remain crossed.....

Update:
There seems to be a positive trend - the pilots' union has welcomed the suggestion of a potential mediation process and is now in talks with LH management regarding the terms of the mediation. As soon as they have agreed on the terms of the mediation, the union would commit not to strike for the term of the ongoing mediation.

No confirmation that the strike, which for now remains scheduled, has been called off, but certainly a silver lining.

Both sides playing hard ball now:
While LH management only wants to discuss details and terms of a potential mediation if the union calls off its threatened strike, the union insists it'll only call off the strike once terms and details of a potential mediation have been agreed.

Classic catch 22 - maybe they could use a mediator to settle the conflict about the mediation.

DING DONG - THE WITCH IS DEAD... THE WITCH IS DEAD;
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Lufthansa manages to avoid pilots' strike

BERLIN

Lufthansa airline says its pilots have canceled a four-day strike planned for next week.

Spokesman Andreas Bartels told The Associated Press on Wednesday the pilots agreed to cancel the walkout over pay and job security, accepting the airline's precondition for arbitration.

The pilots' union Cockpit, which represents some 4,000 pilots, confirmed the agreement.

Both parties say the details about the upcoming arbitration to resolve the dispute will be worked out shortly.

If the strike planned for Tuesday through Friday had gone ahead, it was expected to strand thousands of passengers.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG says the strike threat already has cost Germany's biggest airline several million euros (dollars) in lost revenue.
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Thanks for all the updates folks!

AUSGEZEICHNET!