Lufthansa ground staff begin new strike

Technical workers at Germany’s major carrier Lufthansa began a three-day strike on Wednesday morning in a ground staff pay dispute.

The latest development in the demonstration over pay, the walkout was called just 12 hours before it was due to begin.

what we know so far

Trade union Verdi said the strike began as planned at 6:00 a.m. (0500 GMT/UTC), although the latest round of strikes is not expected to affect passenger flights.

Vardi called on employees at Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Aviation Training and Lufthansa Technical Training to go on a three-day work strike from Wednesday morning.

A union spokesman said the company had submitted an “unchanged offer” amid a dispute over wages and lump sum payments. However, since the striking companies are in “areas away from passengers”, flights will not be affected.

Lufthansa criticized the strike – which was scheduled to last three days and was called off just 12 hours before it was due to start – as “an incomprehensible and completely unjustified escalation.” It claimed that an increased offer had been given to the union.

“Last Thursday, Lufthansa took another major step towards the union and presented a new, improved offer,” an airline spokesperson said.

Earlier in the conflict, Verdi had led two strikes lasting more than an entire day, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights at major German air transport hubs.