Lufthansa Faces Disruption as UFO Calls Flight Attendants to Strike in Munich
The cabin union, UFO, has issued a call for approximately 19,000 flight attendants at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline to initiate a strike on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to UFO's announcement, the strike is scheduled to take place from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday for all departures from Frankfurt and on Wednesday for all departures from Munich.
The warning strike by Lufthansa ground staff, involving around 25,000 employees, concluded with the commencement of their shift at 7:10 a.m., as confirmed by a company spokesperson. The Verdi union had organized the strike, which began on Wednesday evening.
Despite efforts to resume operations gradually throughout the day, flight cancellations and delays persisted on the departure boards at Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The company spokesperson noted that due to the ongoing effects of the strike, isolated delays and flight cancellations could still occur throughout the day. Passengers are advised to regularly check their flight status through the airline's website or app.
The recent warning strikes at Lufthansa have taken a toll on the airline, with an estimated cost of 100 million euros so far this year. Approximately 1,000 flights were canceled on Thursday and Friday, resulting in only 10 to 20 percent of the initially scheduled flights taking place. The disruptions continued as aviation security forces in Hamburg and Frankfurt carried out an additional warning strike, preventing passengers from boarding at these two airports.
Verdi, the union representing ground staff, is pushing for an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros and a 12.5 percent salary increase over a twelve-month period. The next round of negotiations is set to commence next Wednesday.
Lufthansa is currently grappling with labor disputes on multiple fronts. Last Wednesday, the airline's technical departments participated in a warning strike. With a successful ballot, cabin workers are now prepared to join the ongoing industrial action. The cumulative impact of these strikes raises concerns for both the airline and passengers, emphasizing the need for swift resolution in the upcoming negotiations.
Image by Emslichter from Pixabay
