Before the festive season, the Vereinigung Cockpit union has deemed it necessary to issue a warning strike at Lufthansa's subsidiary, Discover Airlines. This announcement came on a Friday, informing members that departures from Germany between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the following Saturday would be subject to this action. Discover Airlines, which began operations in 2021 with 24 Airbus aircraft, takes off from Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.
The Frankfurt flights schedule boasts eleven Discover flights, including long-haul trips to Florida and the Dominican Republic. In Munich, the company operates under Lufthansa flight numbers, and as many as 16 departures could be impacted by the strike. The number of affected passengers remains unclear as per Discover Airlines' reports.
The company remains committed to catering to its guests, either by operating the flights outside the strike period or rebooking the passengers on other airlines. As reported by a company spokesperson, "Our priority is to offer all our guests the opportunity to travel."
The union's call to action stems from the delayed negotiations over the first collective agreement for pilots of the subsidiary. According to the VC, the employers have employed delaying tactics by pulling concessions off the table and then demanding new conditions for collective bargaining. The union criticized this tactic, emphasizing the need for secure framework conditions for cockpit staff.
However, the company spokesperson stated that the negotiations had been moving along very well and were on the brink of finalizing a collective agreement. They cited the achievement of partial agreements and shared the intent to continue negotiations in January, with a swift conclusion in sight. Solutions, they asserted, could only be found at the negotiating table.
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- Pay and Working Conditions: The Vereinigung Cockpit union frequently advocates for better pay and working conditions. Disputes can arise from negotiations with airline management over salary increases, improved working conditions, and more favorable employment terms.
- Operational Disruptions: Strikes can severely impact airline operations, causing disruptions, cancellations, and delays that can harm passengers and the airline's reputation.
- Industrial Actions: In an effort to pressure the airline to meet their demands, the union may call for industrial actions such as partial or full work stoppages, including warning strikes. These actions can have substantial implications for the airline's ability to operate flights.
- Impact on Operations During the Christmas Season: Strikes during the peak travel season, such as Christmas, can lead to increased cancellations, delays, and passenger disruption, resulting in negative economic consequences for the airline.
