BERLIN/FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The wrangling over the salaries and working conditions of various professional groups in the aviation industry will continue this week. Lufthansa and the Ufo union, which represents the interests of around 19,000 flight attendants, will meet on Thursday (April 4). Arbitration will also begin on Friday for the approximately 25,000 employees of private security service providers who check passengers, baggage, freight and staff at airports outside Bavaria.

Last week, arbitration led by the Thuringian Minister President Bodo Ramelow and the former head of the employment agency Frank-Jürgen Weise resulted in a wage agreement for the approximately 25,000 Lufthansa ground staff. They are to receive salary increases averaging 12.5 percent over two years as well as an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros. The agreement is still subject to a consultation with Verdi members, who had already voted in favor of an indefinite strike in a ballot.

The branch union Ufo has essentially demanded 15 percent more pay for the approximately 18,000 cabin staff at Lufthansa and the almost 1,000 employees of the regional subsidiary Lufthansa Cityline for a contract period of 18 months. The union also wants an inflation adjustment bonus of 3,000 euros and higher bonuses.

Following a successful ballot, there has already been a strike by cabin crew. Ufo did not want to increase the pressure over the Easter holidays and refrained from calling another strike. The talks will continue this Thursday, at least for the parent company, according to union circles. Lufthansa did not want to confirm the date.

From this Friday (April 5), the former Bremen State Councillor for Finance, Hans-Henning Lühr (SPD), will try to reconcile the different positions of the trade union Verdi and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) as a mediator. The parties have initially set themselves a deadline of midnight on Sunday. The arbitration will take place at an undisclosed location.

The issues for aviation security are diverse, as Verdi negotiator Wolfgang Pieper explained. Salary increases, duration, payment points or bonuses for trainers and managers: There is no catch anywhere so far, ultimately all issues are still open even after six rounds of negotiations and several waves of warning strikes.

Extra pay for overtime demanded

The main sticking point still seems to be the overtime bonuses that Verdi is demanding "from the first hour of overtime". So far, there have been time buffers without bonuses for full-time and part-time employees, and temporary overtime is offset via annual working time accounts. Pieper says that the system is designed in such a way that practically no one receives overtime bonuses and only the employers benefit from the flexibility buffer.

Ultimately, the BDLS counters, short-time working is avoided in times of the year when traffic is low, especially at smaller airports. According to Frank Haindl, the lead negotiator, the companies have already made concessions to employees on the issue of overtime bonuses starting earlier, having already increased bonuses for Sundays, public holidays and night work last year.

According to the employers, they recently offered a three-stage increase in hourly wages of 3.25 euros over a period of 24 months. Verdi had demanded an hourly wage increase of 2.80 euros, but for a term of 12 months.

The expected recommendation of the arbitrator is not binding for either side. Much will depend on whether it is worked out jointly by both sides and ultimately supported. Verdi has undertaken not to call a strike until the end of the arbitration process. Both sides want to maintain silence about interim results./ceb/DP/mis