Strike averted
April 8, 2010
Averting a strike that could have cost German flag carrier Lufthansa millions, the union representing the airline's pilots agreed Wednesday to use a yet-to-be-named mediator to restart the labor talks.
Lufthansa also agreed to abandon its plans to sue the pilots' union, Cockpit, for damages, as long as the union did not threaten further strikes.
The Cockpit union had threatened to hold a four-day strike April 13-16 to protest proposed changes in pay and what they perceive as reduced job security as the company outsources jobs to countries with lower wages.
A one-day walkout staged in late February cost Lufthansa about 48 million euros ($64 million) and wreaked havoc on its flight schedule, leading to the cancellation of some 2,000 flights.
Lufthansa said the strike threat just settled had already cost them several million euros.
svs/dpa/APN/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Kyle James