Frankfurt: Pilots at German airline Lufthansa said Monday they will strike for two days this week, continuing a long-running dispute with management over early retirement provisions.
After announcing walkouts on long-haul passenger services Tuesday, the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit said on its internet site that short and medium-haul flights departing Germany "between 0001 and 2359" Wednesday (2201 GMT and 2159 GMT) would also be affected.
On Tuesday, 84 out of a total 1,500 flights will be cancelled, accounting for more than half of the scheduled 170 long-haul flights.
That strike, the 13th in 18 months, will only affect Lufthansa flights, the pilots' union said in a statement.
Wednesday's walkout however will include low-cost subsidiary Germanwings.
Union and management have been embroiled in a bitter dispute since April 2014 over management plans to change the pilots' early retirement arrangements.
The dispute hinges on plans by Lufthansa to scrap an arrangement under which pilots can retire at 55 and receive up to 60 percent of their pay until they reach the statutory retirement age of 65.
Pilots are also concerned about Lufthansa's aim to further develop its low-cost activities as it faces growing competition.
Following the horrific crash of a jet belonging to Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings in March, the union suspended industrial action. And talks with management have resumed in recent months.
Cockpit said Monday that it has made substantial concessions and accused management of seeking to "smash wage-agreement structures and demolish protective mechanisms in order to weaken the union."
Lufthansa, which also owns Swiss and Austrian Airlines, has embarked on a massive reorganisation, farming out much of its domestic and medium-haul services to its low-cost airline division, Germanwings.
After announcing walkouts on long-haul passenger services Tuesday, the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit said on its internet site that short and medium-haul flights departing Germany "between 0001 and 2359" Wednesday (2201 GMT and 2159 GMT) would also be affected.
On Tuesday, 84 out of a total 1,500 flights will be cancelled, accounting for more than half of the scheduled 170 long-haul flights.
Wednesday's walkout however will include low-cost subsidiary Germanwings.
Advertisement
The dispute hinges on plans by Lufthansa to scrap an arrangement under which pilots can retire at 55 and receive up to 60 percent of their pay until they reach the statutory retirement age of 65.
Advertisement
Following the horrific crash of a jet belonging to Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings in March, the union suspended industrial action. And talks with management have resumed in recent months.
Advertisement
Lufthansa, which also owns Swiss and Austrian Airlines, has embarked on a massive reorganisation, farming out much of its domestic and medium-haul services to its low-cost airline division, Germanwings.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Lufthansa Pilots Agree To Talks In Long-Running Pay Battle Lufthansa Slashes 900 Flights As Pilots' Strike Drags On Lufthansa Pilots On Strike Again, 816 Flights Canceled Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Omar Abdullah On What Should Be J&K Assembly's 1st Move After Polls Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Ukraine Says "Strengthening" Positions In Russia Amid Raging War China Couples Are Hiring "Professionals" To Fulfill Their Parental Duties TasteAtlas Shares Top 10 Best And Worst American Foods, Internet Disagrees Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.