Monday, 20 July 2015

Lufthansa blocks arbitration

On July 6, 2015, talks with Lufthansa management regarding the beginning of an arbitration failed before they ever started! In December 2014, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) first proposed an arbitration including all open issues. At first, Lufthansa did not accept this offer. However, in April 2015, Lufthansa finally agreed to enter into an arbitration with VC. During preliminary discussions, Lufthansa was unwilling to allow a number of the major issues to be arbitrated.

VC will discuss the current situation internally as well as with its members. The failure of coming to an agreement regarding an arbitration has increased the likelihood of further industrial action. The one-sided assurance issued by VC in mid-May 2015, not to move towards industrial action before the end of July 2015, was made under the assumption that all open issues would be solved by the arbitration. Since Lufthansa has blocked that path, VC’s previous assurance is no longer binding.