- Around 100,000 Lufthansa passengers grounded
- German Airports affected: Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Köln-Bonn, Stuttgart
- Scheduled to commence on February 20, 2024, at 4:00 AM, the strike will continue until February 21, 2024, at 7:10 AM,
Berlin, Germany — The United Services Union (ver.di) Tuesday escalated its industrial action against Lufthansa, calling for a comprehensive warning strike that will significantly impact major German airports. This move comes amidst ongoing wage tariff negotiations, affecting approximately 25,000 ground staff members employed at various subsidiaries under the Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo.
The strikes started as scheduled February 20, 2024, at 4:00 AM. The warning strikes will continue until February 21, 2024, at 7:10 AM, targeting passenger-related sectors at Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Köln-Bonn, and Stuttgart airports. Distinct timings will apply to non-passenger areas such as cargo and technical services. This development follows the lack of agreement in the latest round of negotiations held on February 12, indicating a deepening rift between the union and the airline conglomerate.
As the situation unfolds, passengers and cargo operations are expected to face significant disruptions, underscoring the critical role of ground staff in the aviation sector. This strike serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in labor negotiations within the airline industry, particularly in the complex landscape of large, multinational corporations like Lufthansa.