Lufthansa cabin crew have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike, with nearly 94% of employees at the core company and 99% at Cityline supporting industrial action. Passengers should expect potential disruptions starting today at 20:00 CET as negotiations remain stalled on collective bargaining agreements.
Unanimous Support for Industrial Action
Today marks a critical turning point for Lufthansa operations. In a recent union vote conducted by UFO (UfG), cabin staff across the airline's core company and regional subsidiary Cityline demonstrated strong solidarity. The results were decisive:
- Core Company: Approximately 94% voted for strike action
- Cityline: Approximately 99% voted for strike action
- Timing: Potential disruption begins today at 20:00 CET
While a specific strike date remains unconfirmed, the overwhelming majority indicates a high probability of flight cancellations or delays in the coming days. - afhow
Stalemate Over Collective Bargaining
The escalation stems from deep-seated disagreements regarding salary and working conditions. From the perspective of the union, the primary drivers include:
- Stalled Negotiations: Ongoing disputes over the "manteltarif" (umbrella collective agreement) at Lufthansa
- Cityline Contract: Lack of willingness to negotiate a social tariff contract with Cityline
These unresolved issues have pushed the workforce toward industrial action, despite recent agreements reached with Verdi for ground staff.
Broader Context: Multiple Strikes in Progress
While the core Lufthansa workforce has recently reached an agreement with Verdi, other groups remain in dispute. The airline continues to face significant challenges:
- Pilot Dispute: Ongoing conflict over pension benefits has already caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled in recent weeks
- Passenger Impact: Thousands of travelers have had their travel plans disrupted
Spanish Ground Staff Strikes Rescheduled
Meanwhile, in Spain, ground staff strikes organized by Groundforce and MENZIES were postponed. Originally scheduled for the start of the Easter travel season, the strikes were moved to avoid the peak travel period. Union representatives from UGT confirmed that the action will not begin until Monday, according to a statement provided to dpa.
