- Lufthansa's affiliate, Discover, voices disapproval towards proposed strike actions.
Discover Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary, slams the labor action planned by unions Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and UFO, commencing Tuesday. "Discover Airlines firmly denounces the strike notice issued by the two unions, UFO and VC," the company declared. It's utterly reckless to propose a four-day strike during busy travel times, particularly after reaching a salary agreement with union Verdi.
The airline pointed out that it had negotiated wage hikes of up to 38% for cabin crew and approximately 16% for pilots through collective bargaining agreements. "The abrupt escalation by the sector unions since the wage settlement with Verdi, and the strike call, clearly indicates that this isn't about the best interests of Discover Airlines' employees." UFO and VC are making passengers unwilling victims of their political crusade.
Stay tuned for details on flight cancellations
VC and UFO have urged Discover Airlines' pilots and cabin crew to participate in a strike from Tuesday to Friday (27-30 August). All flights originating from Germany will be impacted. Discover will reveal the number of flight cancellations due to the strike on Monday afternoon. During the initial strike by VC and UFO at the start of the year, the impact was minimal.
Established in 2021, the relatively modest vacation airline Discover Airlines operates 27 aircraft from Munich and Frankfurt, flying to holiday destinations in Europe and beyond. The fleet is forecasted to increase to 33 aircraft by 2027. About 1,900 individuals make up the workforce.
The strike stems from a dispute with Verdi, which has finalized the initial collective bargaining agreements for pilots and flight attendants at the fledgling airline. UFO and VC share similar objectives but seek to enforce their unique wage agreements. They contend that Verdi does not have sufficient membership within the flight operations and was designated as a negotiating partner by Lufthansa management.
The labor market at Discover Airlines has been impacted by the strike announcement from unions Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and UFO, potentially affecting the employment of its 1,900 staff members. The ongoing dispute between these unions and Verdi, which has already resulted in a wage agreement, could lead to significant flight cancellations starting from August 27.
