Enlarge image

Terminal at Hamburg Airport: normal operations will not resume until Friday

Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa

The Ver.di union has ended its 27-hour warning strike among Lufthansa ground staff. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the union.

The strike that began on Wednesday morning also led to some flight cancellations on Thursday. After up to 900 flight cancellations the day before, the airline initially canceled around 30 departures at its Frankfurt and Munich hubs for Thursday morning.

Arrivals and departures were also canceled in Hamburg. Normal operations should return to normal by Friday at the latest.

Around 7,000 people took part in the warning strikes at the Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Berlin locations, as Ver.di negotiator Marvin Reschinsky reported.

He threatened Lufthansa with longer strikes if the previous offer was not improved. The company had criticized the early escalation of the conflict.

“We would like to find a solution at the negotiating table,” Verdi negotiator Marvin Reschinsky told Bayerischer Rundfunk on Thursday. “It’s now up to Lufthansa to come to the end with a good offer.”

In the collective bargaining dispute, Ver.di is demanding 12.5 percent more salary, but at least 500 euros per month for a term of one year. There will also be a group-wide inflation bonus of 3,000 euros.

Lufthansa has offered 13 percent more money and an inflation bonus for a period of three years. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for next Monday (February 12). According to Reschinsky, without a breakthrough there is a risk of further strikes, possibly longer ones and with a shorter notice period. “We haven’t decided yet,” the trade unionist told Bayerischer Rundfunk.