Lufthansa and ver.di reach agreement at pay negotiations, marks end to strike action
Lufthansa Group stated (01-May-2013) the Air Traffic Employers' Association (AGVL) and ver.di reached an agreement at pay negotiations for Lufthansa ground staff at the fourth round of wage talks for the around 30,000 ground staff employees of the company. The agreement, set to run for 26 months, provides for pay rises differentiated by business segment. It is valid for 26 months from 01-Feb-2013 to 31-Mar-2015. Under the terms of the settlement, employees of Deutsche Lufthansa AG are to receive a pay increase of 3.0% in two stages, the first on 01-Aug-2013 (1.5%) and the second on 01-Aug-2014 (1.5%). The increase reflects the "current difficult situation at Lufthansa German Airlines". Meanwhile, pay for staff at Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo is to rise in two stages by 4.7%, including 2.4% on 01-Aug-2013 and a further 2.3% on 01-Aug-2014. Staff at Lufthansa Systems are to receive similar increases to those at Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo on 01-Nov-2013 and 01-Nov-2014. A pay rise of 5.2% is also to be granted in two stages to trainees at all the business areas: 2.7% on 01-Aug-2013 and 2.5% on 01-Aug-2014. A business area-specific settlement for employees at LSG SkyChefs was concluded last February. Additionally, the two sides have agreed on the principal details for new and competitive pay structures for decentral stations and Global Business Services, in which Lufthansa is to bundle specific administrative functions. Pay agreements are to be worked out by 31-Oct-2013. Lufthansa is also to refrain from compulsory redundancies as part of employment safeguards up to 31-Mar-2015. This commitment is valid for employees switching to the new pay structures up to 2020. In return, ver.di has agreed to six "pay-freeze" months from Feb-2013 to Jul-2013 as the union's contribution to the SCORE programme at safeguarding earnings at the Lufthansa Group. The two sides must approve the agreement by 31 May 2013. Lufthansa labour director and AGVL negotiating leader Stefan Lauer commented:"This pay settlement sends a major signal in respect of differentiated wage agreements within the Lufthansa Group and will thereby contribute to the success of the SCORE programme designed to underpin the Group's future. At difficult but constructive negotiations, we have concluded a fair settlement in the interests of both sides, which opens up further future perspectives. It is important now that we offer our passengers reliable flight schedules free from disruption".[more - original PR] [more - original PR - German] [more - original PR - German - Ver.di]