OAG Travel News

Germany's biggest airline faced a major strike by its ground and cabin crews next week after union members voted overwhelmingly to support a massive walkout.

The Ver.di union, which represents some 50,000 Lufthansa workers, said Friday that nearly 91% of its members voted for the strike in two weeks of balloting that came after talks with the airline collapsed July 10.

Lufthansa didn't immediately comment on the announcement.

Shares of Lufthansa were down nearly 3% to €15.17 ($23.78) in Frankfurt on the news.

The ver.di service workers' union, which had sought a pay rise of 9.8% this year, rejected a Lufthansa offer of 6.7% spread through February 2010, plus a one-time bonus payment.

Ver.di said the strike would affect all areas -- cabin and check-in personnel, catering, Lufthansa Cargo employees, as well as maintenance and repair staff at Lufthansa Technik, the maintenance and repair division.

Lufthansa already had to cancel about 1,000 domestic and European flights earlier this week after the pilots union Cockpit called strikes at Lufthansa's subsidiaries Eurowings and CityLine. Long-haul flights weren't affected.

Lufthansa had offered CityLine pilots a 5.5% pay increase, plus a one-time bonus payment. Eurowings pilots were offered a 6.5% increase plus a bonus. Talks have been ongoing for months.

The Cockpit union has declined to say exactly how much more it is seeking, but has said it could stage longer strikes if Lufthansa doesn't increase its offers.

Source: www.online.wsj.com