FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has given a positive assessment of the 24-hour strike at Lufthansa. "Our members have shown determination and unity," said VC President Andreas Pinheiro. According to the union's estimates, around 93% of the flights targeted by the industrial action remained grounded.
According to Lufthansa, about 800 flights were canceled on Thursday, affecting 100,000 passengers. Only departures from Germany were affected by the strike. At the same time, flight attendants from the Ufo union also staged a warning strike. On Friday, the company reported that flight operations had returned to normal.
Criticism of Labor Director
The VC strike was solely about issues concerning retirement benefits, Pinheiro said. He rejected statements by Lufthansa's labor director, Michael Niggemann, who claimed that pilots retired on average with earnings of €8,400. This figure also includes about €3,000 from the state pension scheme.
"To single out one figure is disingenuous, speculative, and does not reflect reality," the VC president stated. Most pilots are expected to retire with a company pension between €2,000 and €5,000. Only a very small group receives the maximum amount. Niggemann's comments, he added, discredit employees and do not foster trust for further negotiations./ceb/DP/jha
