Lufthansa face further problems as cabin crew now prepare to strike for 7 days

Having averted one strike at the end of June, it would seem that negotiations between Lufthansa and the cabin crew union UFO, which represents approximately 19,000 members, have reached an impasse and a strike is now unavoidable, scheduled to start November 6th and lasting for 7 days. Lufthansa have struggled to put together a deal which would favor the union’s demands as that would, according to the airline, increase costs by 25%. It offered to submit new proposals for negotiation on Wednesday, but the union have rejected what has been put forward, with Nicoley Baublies, head of the UFO union, classing it as “old wine in new bottles.”
In the past 18 months Lufthansa has been hit hard by strike action, with 13 strikes called by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit costing the airline over €100 million in the first six months of this year alone. At the root cause of the strikes on both cabin crew and pilots’ sides is the pension packages being offered, especially to those who take early retirement.
The pilot’s union are struggling to reach agreement with Lufthansa over the pension fund issues and also a request by the airline for pilots to work longer hours but for no increase in salary. The problems do not stop there either as talks are also due to commence this Thursday with Verdi, the union representing 33,000 ground, cargo and additional cabin crew concerning retirement benefits.