The proposal negotiated last week between Lufthansa Group and Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has now been fully accepted by the Pilots’ union. The negotiations have resulted in the approval of a proposed new ‘VTV’ collective remuneration agreement and ‘MTV’ collective terms-of-employment agreement for the pilots of Lufthansa Airline and Lufthansa Cargo, who number some 5,200 people.
The new VTV will remain effective until at least December 31, 2026, and the new MTV until at least December 31, 2027. Both agreements include a corresponding duty to maintain industrial peace throughout their validity. The new VTV and MTV agreements are still subject to editorial finalisation and the approval of the relevant bodies. The key elements of the agreement include a one-off payment of 3.75% of fixed annual compensation, up to a maximum of €3,000, in 2023, plus increases of 7% on December 1, 2023, 5% on January 1, 2025 and 5% on January 1, 2026.
There will be more plannable leisure time and roster stability for pilots, including the fixing of ten free days a month and additional growth through the assimilation of former Germanwings pilots into Lufthansa Airline.
“This collective agreement with Vereinigung Cockpit will provide additional stability in our operations and thus also more reliability for our customers,” said Lufthansa Group Executive Board Member and Labour Director Michael Niggemann. “With it we are improving not only our pilots’ remuneration, but also their ability to maintain an effective balance between their profession and their private lives. This new agreement is not easy for us to conclude from an economic perspective,” Niggemann continues. “But its long-term nature provides Lufthansa Airline with a sound planning foundation for the years ahead, particularly for its intended long-haul growth. The fact that the new agreement was found amicably around the negotiating table strengthens our social partnership, too.”
