Lufthansa Pilot Agreement: What You Need to Know
Lufthansa, one of Europe`s largest airlines, has been in negotiations with its pilots` union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), over a new collective bargaining agreement. The negotiations have been ongoing for several years, with both parties making compromises and attempting to find common ground. In late 2020, a new agreement was finally reached, and it has significant implications for Lufthansa pilots and the airline as a whole.
Here`s what you need to know about the Lufthansa pilot agreement:
1. The agreement includes job security measures.
One of the main sticking points in the negotiations was job security for Lufthansa pilots. The new agreement includes provisions that will prevent Lufthansa from outsourcing pilot jobs to subsidiaries or hiring pilots on contracts that offer less job security. This is a significant win for the pilots` union, and it provides them with greater certainty about their future employment prospects.
2. Pilots will take pay cuts.
As with many airlines around the world, Lufthansa has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has been forced to cut costs, and one of the ways it will do so is by reducing pilot salaries. The new agreement includes a temporary pay cut for pilots, which will be in effect until the end of 2021. The amount of the pay cut varies depending on the pilot`s rank and seniority.
3. There will be changes to pilot schedules.
The new agreement also includes changes to pilot schedules, which will allow Lufthansa to operate more efficiently. Pilots will be required to work more hours per year than they did under the previous agreement, but they will also have more control over their schedules. This will allow them to have more input into when and where they work, which is a significant benefit for many pilots.
4. Lufthansa will be able to hire more pilots.
One of the benefits of the new agreement for Lufthansa is that it will be able to hire more pilots. Under the previous agreement, the airline was limited in the number of pilots it could hire, which made it difficult for Lufthansa to expand its operations. The new agreement removes these restrictions, which will allow the airline to grow and compete more effectively with other airlines in Europe.
Overall, the new Lufthansa pilot agreement represents a compromise between the airline and its pilots` union. While pilots will experience some short-term pain in the form of pay cuts, they will also benefit from increased job security and greater control over their schedules. For Lufthansa, the agreement provides greater flexibility and the ability to hire more pilots, which will be critical for the airline`s future success.