Lufthansa pilots agree to talks in long-running pay battle

AFP, FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Pilots at German air giant Lufthansa said on Friday they would join arbitration over a long-running pay dispute that has hobbled the company with repeated strikes.
“This mediation should open the way to a solution that does justice to both the workers and the company,” Ingolf Schumacher, spokes-man for pilots’ union Cockpit, said in a statement.
Lufthansa made a fresh pay offer after six days of walkouts by air crew in late November cost the airline 100 million euros ($104 million).
Management proposed a 4.4-per cent pay increase spread over two years, as well as a one-off bonus payment.
Union leaders at Cockpit had previously rejected a similar deal that was tied to changes in pension conditions.
“I’m confident that with support from a mediator we’ll reach a fair solution,” Lufthansa human resources chief Bettina Volkens said in a statement.
The two sides said they hoped for a result from the talks by the end of January.
Pilots have walked out 15 times since early 2014 in a battle over pay, saying they have had no salary increase in five years even as Lufthansa has made healthy profits.
Two strikes in the space of a week in November grounded around 4,500 flights and more than half a million passengers, figures released by the airline last week showed.

Lufthansa pilots agree to talks in long-running pay battle

AFP, FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Pilots at German air giant Lufthansa said on Fridaythey would join arbitration over a long-running pay dispute that has hobbledthe company with repeated strikes. This mediation should open the way to a solution that does justice to both the workers and the company, Ingolf Schumacher, spokes-man for pilots union Cockpit, said in a statement. Lufthansa made a fresh pay offer after six days of walkouts by air crew in late November cost the airline 100 million euros ($104 million). Management proposed a 4.4-per cent pay increase spread over two years, as well as a one-off bonus payment. Union leaders at Cockpit had previously rejecteda similar deal that was tiedto changes in pensionconditions. Im confident that with support from a mediatorwell reach a fair solution, Lufthansa human resources chief Bettina Volkens said in a statement. The two sides said they hoped for a result from the talks by the end of January. Pilots have walked out 15 times since early 2014 in a battle over pay, saying they have had no salary increase in five years even as Lufthansa has made healthy profits. Two strikes in the spaceof a week in November grounded around 4,500flights and more than half a million passengers, figures released by the airline last week showed.