Frankfurt (AFP)
A German union representing Lufthansa cabin crew said on Thursday that it would call a new strike "in the days to come", raising the specter of chaos during this holiday season.
The UFO said it would give details of this action Friday at 4:00 p.m. GMT. This call is the latest episode in a long battle for better wages and working conditions in the main German company.
The work stoppage was expected after the UFO had threatened it on Sunday, however, adding that there would be no strike on December 24, 25 and 26.
"We do not consider strikes as a solution," said a Lufthansa spokesperson to the DPA news agency.
He said the company "continues to believe" in the arbitration process and was ready to take part in the new discussions proposed by two independent mediators for the beginning of January.
A massive 48-hour work stoppage of cabin crew forced the German airline to cut 1,500 scheduled flights in two days in early November, affecting nearly 200,000 passengers.
UFO calls for better working conditions and higher wages for new employees
Lufthansa has long refused to discuss with UFO, claiming that the union weakened by a permanent conflict at its head no longer has the right to represent the 22,000 cabin crew. The company even challenged the union's legal status in court.
But the company suddenly changed position during the November work stoppage, agreeing to arbitration with UFO executives and two mediators.
Neither UFO nor Lufthansa gave details of the discussions, but the German media reported that they could not even agree on the topics to be discussed.
Four of the group's smaller subsidiaries have also had to face walkouts as part of this movement, which has been going on for months.
A one-day strike on October 20 resulted in dozens of flight cancellations at Eurowings, Germanwings, SunExpress and Lufthansa CityLine.
© 2019 AFP