Lufthansa subsidiary signs new wage agreements with pilots’ union

Settlement at Eurowings to run for five years – Sustainable collective rules for pilots at SWISS International Airlines and Austrian Airlines. New wage agreements apply for the approximately 300 pilots at Eurowings GmbH as of 1 January 2015.

At the beginning of the year, the airline reached agreement with the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union on new settlements that are to run for five years. They govern such matters as developments in working conditions and “grandfathering clauses” for the duration of the agreements. The collective bargaining partners agreed on a wage increase of 2.5 per cent for the year 2015 and at least two per cent for subsequent years, depending on the rate of inflation. Signing the wage agreements means that the forthcoming renewal of the Eurowings fleet with Airbus A320 aircraft, and thereby the safeguarding of Eurowings and its future prospects, is being aided and supported in terms of collective bargaining, too.

Sustainable settlements with various pilotsʼ unions have already been reached for other flight operations in the Lufthansa Group.

These recent wage settlements mean that the Lufthansa Group and almost all its pilots now have agreements that reflect changes in the industry and that introduce sustainable wage conditions. Still outstanding, however, are wage agreements at Lufthansa German Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings. In December 2014, Lufthansa offered further talks on unresolved topics, along with a concrete plan for arbitration. The Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union turned down this offer. Lufthansa is always prepared to cooperate on a viable solution for all sides.

Source and image: Lufthansa