Lufthansa strike

Last Tuesday (30 September) Lufthansa pilots staged another daytime strike their fifth this year.  Some 50 long haul flights to and from Frankfurt had to be cancelled.  Readers should check the Lufthansa web site if they are travelling within the next few days as another walkout could take place this week.  

The strike ran from 06:00 until 21:00 (local) but its knock-on effects meant that flights via Frankfurt, Europe's third largest airport, were disrupted between late Monday and early on Wednesday.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) trade union, representing about 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, wants the airline to maintain a scheme that allows pilots to retire early at the age of 55 and still receive up to 60% of their pay before regular pension payments start.
 
Lufthansa has offered to keep the pension scheme for employees who started before this year but wants to increase the earliest possible retirement age for new recruits.  The union says it is unfair for new pilots to not receive this option.

Germany's flagship carrier has agreed deals with cabin crew, catering and maintenance staff on getting costs down and says the pilots must be prepared to talk.  www.lufthansa.com

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