Pilots back wage deal with Lufthansa, averting fresh strikes
2023.08.10 09:25
© Reuters. A view shows Lufthansa planes parked at Frankfurt airport during a nationwide strike called by the German trade union Verdi over a wage dispute, in Frankfurt, Germany March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Members of the pilots’ union VC have voted by a large majority to back a wage deal with Lufthansa, a spokesperson for the union told Reuters on Thursday.
This eliminates the risk of a pilots’ strike for now at the German flag-carrier.
After a chaotic summer 2022 due to walkouts over pay, the company negotiated a significant wage increase with VC.
Over the next three years, basic pay is to rise by at least 18% in three stages, according to a letter from Lufthansa to employees seen by Reuters.
Including lump-sum payments already agreed to last year and an additional inflation compensation bonus, captains are to see their wages go up by at least 25%. For co-pilots, the increase ranges from 33% to over 50%.
“By a clear majority of 65.5%, the Lufthansa pilots have spoken out in favour of the wage deal presented,” VC’s Marcel Groels said in a post on the social media platform LinkedIn.
