News / Germany

Lufthansa reaches agreement with cabin crew in long-running dispute

Thursday, 30 June 2016 6:01 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 30 June 2016 6:09 PM ]

This photo taken on April 27, 2016 shows planes of German airline Lufthansa sitting on the tarmac of the Franz-Josef-Strauss-Airport in Munich, southern Germany. (AFP photo)

Germany's flagship carrier and its cabin staff have reached an agreement in a long-running dispute over working conditions, pay and pensions.

In a statement on Thursday, the UFO, a union representing Lufthansa's cabin crew, said arbitration proceedings in the bitter work dispute with the German airline reached a successful conclusion.

The statement confirmed that Lufthansa and the UFO "have come to a comprehensive agreement that has been accepted by both sides."

Meanwhile, Lufthansa said that the agreement will be formally accepted on July 5 when the full details will be unveiled. The union said specifics won't be released before then.

The German airline added that the deal was reached under the mediation of Matthias Platzeck, the former Social Democrat president of the regional state of Brandenburg.

The long and bitter dispute erupted about two years ago when management sought to cut costs, saying the current retirement system was too expensive to maintain. The union, however, wanted the status quo to remain.

In November last year, cabin staff staged the longest walkout in Lufthansa's history with a seven-day stoppage, during which 4,700 flights were scrapped.

The UFO held multiple strikes to press its demands before both sides agreed in January to take their dispute to arbitration.

The union represents more than 13,000 flight attendants.

Lufthansa, which has also faced multiple strikes by its pilots, is battling to bring down costs in a bid to survive competition from low-cost rivals.

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