OREANDA-NEWS. Lufthansa and the Independent Flight Attendants’ Organization (UFO) have agreed on arbitration. The arbitration talks will continue until 30th June 2016. For this period industrial peace will be obligatory. The arbitration will be led by the former Prime Minister for Brandenburg, Matthias Platzeck. Prior to the arbitration, the social partners had already agreed on a new collective wage settlement as well as a new agreement for the future pensions and transitional benefits of Lufthansa cabin staff. The collective wage agreement will be valid until 30th September 2016. For 2015 the approximately 19,000 cabin staff will receive a single payment in the amount of EUR 3,000. Wages will increase by 2.2 percent effective 1st January 2016. The social partners have also already signed an agreement regarding the future pensions and transitional benefits of cabin staff. Details which are still in dispute must be negotiated by 15th February. Should no agreement be reached on these details, the pending issues will be brought to arbitration. During the arbitration such items as the remuneration conditions as from 1st October as well as other pending issues from the collective wage agreement will be negotiated. In parallel to the arbitration, pending issues will be discussed which do not form part of the arbitration, such as the conditions under which cabin staff within the Lufthansa Group may switch to another airline in Germany. Parallel to the arbitration, talks have also begun between the management of Eurowings and UFO regarding work conditions in the low-cost segment.  “We are very pleased to start the arbitration and to work towards a common goal. This is an important sign for our employees, customers and shareholders,” says Dr. Bettina Volkens, Chief Officer Corporate Human Resources and Legal Affairs of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “By means of this method we have been successful in developing a mechanism to resolve all pending issues and provide sufficient planning security to the employees during this period,” declares Nicoley Baublies, a member of the UFO Board. The social partners and the arbitrators have agreed to secrecy during the arbitration period and will make no further comments on the organization, content and progress of the arbitration. “The motto is: conciliate and remain silent”, emphasized Matthias Platzeck. Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Media Relations Lufthansa Group