Collective bargaining dispute: Arbitration at Lufthansa ended without agreement

Frankfurt. At Lufthansa, the arbitration talks with the pilots' union “Vereinigung Cockpit” ended without results. The two former Prime Ministers Roland Koch and Bodo Ramelow, who were named as mediators, initially refrained from proposing their own solutions, as both sides unanimously report internally. However, there is currently no threat of further strikes by the pilots because, in addition to the now failed arbitration, mediation between the parties on a broader topic is still ongoing.

In addition to collective bargaining policy issues, this mediation discussion behind closed doors also includes strategic questions, such as the possible development of the core company Lufthansa. The career opportunities of the pilots and the flight attendants, who negotiate separately, depend on this.

It is still possible that the overall conflict between the company and the crews can be resolved in mediation. According to the announcements, the arbitrators have offered to take part in the further process. However, it is now no longer possible to fall back on the results of the arbitration if mediation fails.

The collective bargaining deals with questions of pensions and salaries in various German flight operations of the Lufthansa Group. The VC union wants to fight for a social plan for the airline Lufthansa Citylines, which was closed in April. Behind the conflict over high production costs at the parent company is also the board's strategy of relocating aircraft and therefore crews to flight operations where lower tariff regulations apply.

The conflict has been simmering for a long time. The VC has already called on its members to strike on seven days this year. Hundreds of flights were also canceled during the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Lufthansa in April.