FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Since Monday, the mediators have had the floor in the deadlocked wage dispute for Lufthansa ground staff. Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke) and the former head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise, met this morning with representatives of the company and the trade union Verdi in a hotel at Frankfurt Airport. An official start was deliberately avoided, as Lufthansa confirmed. Strikes are not permitted during the arbitration process, which is due to end on Maundy Thursday at the latest.

Both sides have agreed to maintain strict confidentiality regarding interim results. Under great time pressure, the parties involved are trying to avoid indefinite strikes over the Easter vacations. According to the current schedule, the actual arbitration negotiations are to continue until Wednesday, before the Verdi union's wage commission meets on Thursday to decide how to proceed. The company will also evaluate the expected arbitration proposals. Details are also expected at this time at the earliest.

Verdi is demanding 12.5 percent more pay for the approximately 25,000 Lufthansa ground staff for a one-year term, while the company has offered 10 percent for a 28-month term. Verdi has already organized five rounds of warning strikes among ground staff, as a result of which hundreds of flights have been cancelled. Industrial action has also recently been taken by airport security staff, who are also organized by Verdi, and Lufthansa flight attendants, who are represented by the branch union Ufo.

If no compromise is found in the arbitration process, Verdi is threatening ground staff with an indefinite strike. The ballot for this has already begun and will run until Wednesday. The arbitrator appointed by the union, Ramelow, visited a Verdi polling station on the eve of the kick-off, as can be seen in a social media video. Alluding to an aviation slogan, the employees shouted "Ready for - more money!"/ceb/DP/mis