Lufthansa faces potential industrial action as pilots overwhelmingly authorize strike action. The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), the pilots’ union, announced Tuesday that its members voted decisively in favor of a work stoppage following a recent ballot.
While the precise timing of any potential strike remains unconfirmed, union officials state that the next steps will be determined by the VC’s tariff commission. Participation in the ballot was high, with 90% of Lufthansa pilots and 95% of Lufthansa Cargo pilots taking part. Of those, 88% of Lufthansa pilots and 96% of Lufthansa Cargo pilots voted in favor of strike action.
The dispute centers on employer contributions to the pilots’ occupational pension scheme. The union argues that the value of the pension system has diminished since transitioning from a guarantee of payout to a guarantee of contributions eight years ago, citing low interest rates. Lufthansa has reportedly rejected the union’s demands, deeming them financially unsustainable. After seven rounds of negotiations, the VC declared a breakdown in talks.
Furthermore, pilots have voiced concerns regarding the airline’s plans to relocate positions to other subsidiaries with significantly lower labor costs. Previous pilot strikes have resulted in the near-total cancellation of Lufthansa’s flight schedule during the affected periods. The last pilot strike occurred three years ago, lasting one day.
