Ground staff at Lufthansa reach an agreement regarding pay with the airline.
The German trade union ver.di has announced that Lufthansa airport ground staff have successfully negotiated a pay agreement with their employer.
After a series of warning strikes in February and March, affecting around 200,000 passengers each time, ver.di secured a new pay deal for Lufthansa ground staff. Lufthansa's staff manager, Michael Niggemann, described the agreement as a "fair compromise" with significant salary increases over the contract's duration.
Ver.di had been advocating for a 12.5% pay hike for its 25,000 ground staff members at Lufthansa, many of whom earn close to or at minimum wage. While the specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed, it includes salary increases for ground staff.
Despite the resolution with ground staff, Lufthansa faces ongoing challenges. The Independent Cabin Crew Organisation (UFO) urged Lufthansa's cabin crew to join the industrial action in mid-March. UFO is demanding a 15% pay increase over 18 months and a 3,000 euro inflation compensation for some members. Negotiations between the airline and the union are ongoing, with arbitration scheduled after Easter.
These demands follow Lufthansa's announcement of a 2.7 billion euro profit in 2023, marking its third-best financial performance. Additionally, the airline was recognized as Europe's Leading Airline for 2024 at the World Travel Awards.