Lufthansa Strike

Speigel Online International

The German newspaper, Speigel Online International, wrote an article regarding the Lufthansa Airline cabin crew strike. The newspaper states that the flight attendant union, UFO, is demanding a 5% wage increase, profit sharing, and better entry-level wages. The airline has offered a 3.5 % increase in wages. According to the article, a "strike could cause major disruptions for air travel in Germany and Europe".

The union is apprehensive by Lufthansa's plan to refashion some of its operations to a low cost carrier to be more competitive. The UFO is feels that the airline will hire new flight crews for less pay and lesser conditions. The UFO is one of two unions for the airlines crew and has become very popular with the employees since its founding in 2002. Other unions have also vastly restrained the airline in recent past.

These strikes have caused a huge finical burden to Lufthansa. The airline has been forced to cut 3,500 jobs. They have asked the flight attendants to increase the amount of flights they work each month, decrease the amount of overtime that is paid, and hire any new employees at less pay. The airline does not have many options financially if they want to stay in business. The article goes on to say that the flight crew needs to help, not hinder, the restructuring of the company. If the flight crew does not help Lufthansa to stay in business, they themselves could be out of a job. Over all it is the traveler that suffers. There will be fewer flights, delays and cancellations.

The Wall Street Journal

According to The Wall Street Journal, Lufthansa cut two-thirds of the regular flights for Friday. Normally they "would operate 1,800 flights on a Friday, but said that Thursday that it had canceled 1,200 flights in advance of the 24 hour strike. Lufthansa said 48 flights for Thursday were canceled". The flight crew, represented by UFO labor union, will strike for the third time in a week. There are 18,000 crew members that the UFO union has represented for the past 13 months.

With the rising cost of fuel and the floundering economy, the airline's second quarter net decreased by 24%. The goal of Lufthansa is to make approximately €1.5 billon ($2 billion) by 2014. Cabin crew contracts are instrumental in reaching this goal. The flight attendant's maximum salary with Lufthansa is