Lufthansa Airlines Group and the German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union have reached a mutual understanding on the pay rise issue. As a part of the deal, the Lufthansa Group has agreed to raise the pilot pay scale and the German pilots have agreed not to strike until mid-2023. Meanwhile, during the truce period, Lufthansa plans to expand the deal into a broader agreement.
Matthias Baier, VC spokesman said: “The collective agreements are still open, but the points to be negotiated can now be discussed in a confidential setting. Under the initial agreement, cockpit crews are to receive an increase in their basic monthly pay of €490 each in two stages, with retroactive effect from 1 August 2022, and as of 1 April 2023."
Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of the Deutsche Lufthansa Airlines Group, Michael Niggemann said: "The agreement benefits entry-level salaries in particular. An entry-level co-pilot will receive around 20% additional basic pay, while a captain in the final grade will receive a 5.5% hike.”
Strikes and staff shortages have already forced several airlines, including Lufthansa, to cancel thousands of flights this summer, leading to long queues at major airports and frustrating the passengers that were eager to start traveling again after COVID-19 lockdowns.
According to Lufthansa Group, both parties to the collective bargaining agreement will carry on their productive discussions on a range of subjects during this time. Regarding other subjects and the talks, Lufthansa and Vereinigung Cockpit have agreed to retain confidentiality.
During the pandemic, Lufthansa cancelled the contract and started to establish a new airline, circumventing the collective agreement, with worse pay scale conditions