Lufthansa striking cabin crew ready for talks

LufthansaThe representatives of a union of striking cabin crew at German airlines, Lufthansa have indicated that they are ready for talks during the coming weekend.

The union appeared ready for talks after renewing contact with the airline amid disagreements over pay and conditions for employees at the airlines. The union has not planned further strike after Friday, according to UFO head Nicoley Baublies.

Baublies hoped that Friday could be the last day of strike, which has resulted in the cancellations of hundreds of flights and has also caused a loss of more than 10 million euros to the airlines. The airline was not ready to agree to the UFO’s demand for 5 per cent pay increases and guarantees against outsourcing.

The demands were put forward as the airline aims to cut costs under a plan to improve annual earnings by 1.5 billion euros by 2014. The airline has offered 3.6 per cent more pay in exchange for longer hours and has not said that it does not see the need for a mediator.

The union and the management have been holding discussions since 13 months. The strike began at Frankfurt airport a week age when talks between the two parties broke down. The strike was later extended to Munich and Berlin on Tuesday.

The airline has said that it is aiming to operate about half of the 1,800 flights that it runs each day on Friday as there are indications that the strike will be over.