Lufthansa, flight attendants agree to mediation to settle labor dispute
By Linda Blachly | September 7, 2012
Lufthansa (LH) and the UFO union—which represents 18,000 LH flight attendants—have agreed to mediation to settle their dispute after three days of strikes forced the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights, Reuters reported Friday.
The move came Friday after LH said it would stop outsourcing flight attendant jobs at its Berlin hub and offer permanent jobs to the cabin crews it uses (ATW Daily News, Sept. 7).
According to a Reuters report, UFO union boss Nicoley Baublies told reporters in Frankfurt, “We have signed a preliminary agreement over a mediation on the wage components. Starting tomorrow there will no longer be any strikes until we agree to or reject an arbiter’s ruling.”
Around 1,000 flights in and out of Frankfurt were canceled Friday as flight attendants staged a third day of strikes in the escalating dispute over pay and conditions. LH said 105,000 passengers were affected and that the first two days of strikes cost the carrier €10 million ($12.6 million).
