At Germany’s largest airline, Lufthansa, and its cargo subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo, a strike ballot is about to begin. VC has called on its members to vote starting Friday, September 12. According to the union, the ballot is expected to run until the end of the month. During this period, no immediate industrial action is planned.
The union’s bargaining committee had previously declared negotiations with Lufthansa over company pensions a failure. Back in May, the pilots’ union had called on Lufthansa to present solutions for retirement and transitional benefits. Those talks ended without results. About 4,800 employees are directly affected.
VC President Andreas Pinheiro explained the reasons for the ballot:
“Lufthansa had seven rounds of negotiations to present a serious offer and failed to do so.” He criticized the recurring pattern: “It’s always the same: the employer blocks and stonewalls, rejects every proposal, refuses any compromise—and then complains when we leave the bargaining table.”
Strike Possible at Lufthansa – Munich Flights at Risk
Initial Report – Friday, September 5, 10:40 a.m.: Munich – Signs point to a labor dispute. Lufthansa pilots may go on strike after the VC declared negotiations over retirement benefits officially failed. The union has already requested authorization for a strike ballot from its executive board. A press release confirming this has also been made available to our newsroom.
Uncertainty About Timing and Scope
It is still unclear if and when a strike will occur. No date has been set. Roughly 4,800 Lufthansa pilots are directly involved. The last strike by cockpit staff at Lufthansa’s struggling mainline brand took place nearly three years ago, in 2022, when pilots walked out for a full day.
Contract Dispute Escalates – VC Accuses Lufthansa of Failing to Deliver Improvements
In May, VC urged Lufthansa to present solutions on company pensions and transitional benefits. The talks yielded no results. “Instead of constructive models, there were only proposals at the expense of employees. No substantial improvements were offered,” said VC President Pinheiro.
A Lufthansa spokesperson told the German Press Agency (dpa) that the company had not yet received official information about the failure of the talks and therefore could not comment.
Background: 2017 Labor Agreement
The dispute is linked to a 2017 labor contract. At the time, the union agreed that Lufthansa would no longer guarantee pension amounts, only the level of employer contributions, effectively shifting interest-rate risks onto employees. In addition, the average entry age for transitional benefits was raised by two years to 60. According to VC, the returns have fallen short of expectations.
Most Lufthansa flights depart from or arrive at Munich Airport, which handles numerous short-haul routes as well as long-haul flights, such as to Montreal, Canada. Lufthansa also regularly operates flights from Nuremberg to Frankfurt.
Passenger Rights in Case of Cancellations
If flights are canceled, passengers have rights. According to Germany’s consumer protection association, travelers are entitled to an alternative flight to reach their destination. They may also claim compensation under EU passenger rights regulations, unless the airline can demonstrate timely notice or extraordinary circumstances. Alternatively, passengers may cancel and request a refund.
Broader Labor Conflict Within the Lufthansa Group
This dispute is part of a larger labor struggle within the Lufthansa Group. CEO Carsten Spohr founded subsidiaries City Airlines and Discover, which operate under lower pay and conditions compared to Lufthansa Classic and its regional arm Cityline.
Lufthansa has already reached collective agreements with the union Verdi for these subsidiaries. However, VC (representing pilots) and Ufo (representing cabin crew) were excluded. Both unions fear more aircraft—and thus jobs—will be shifted to the lower-cost airlines.
Source: (jr/dpa)
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