Lufthansa cabin crew to go on 2-day strike Wednesday amid labor dispute

Lufthansa cabin crew will go on a two-day strike starting Wednesday, following a separate two-day walkout by pilots, the Independent Flight Attendants’ Organization (UFO) announced Monday.

The strike will begin at 12.01 am (2200GMT) on Wednesday and end shortly before midnight on Thursday, UFO said, adding that it will affect all departures of the core Lufthansa brand from Frankfurt and Munich.

Flight attendants had already staged a one-day walkout Friday in a dispute over improved working conditions. Earlier this week, pilots refused to fly on Monday and Tuesday in a separate wage dispute with the airline.

According to UFO, the company bears responsibility for the escalation. "We are dealing here with an employer that has adopted a hardline stance, while constantly proclaiming that it is ready to negotiate at any time," said collective bargaining expert Harry Jaeger.

The latest pilots’ strike had already caused hundreds of flight cancellations as of Monday and further hardened positions between the negotiating parties. Lufthansa has described the pilots’ demands as "absurd and unfeasible," while thousands of passengers were once again forced to change their travel plans.

Warning to unions

On Monday, Lufthansa Chief Human Resources Officer Michael Niggemann warned sector unions Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and UFO against continuing their confrontational course. Emphasizing the financial toll, he said: "Every strike weakens the affected airline."

This fifth wave of strikes by flight crew is expected to overshadow the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the original Lufthansa on Wednesday. The unions are planning a rally in front of the company’s headquarters at Frankfurt Airport.