Discover Airlines is currently facing a significant challenge after the unions Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and Ufo announced a strike for next week. The four-day industrial action, which is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 30, could have a significant impact on the flight operations of the still young Lufthansa subsidiary.
The call for a strike comes at a time when the summer holidays are at their peak and many travelers are looking to implement their vacation plans. Discover Airlines, which was only founded in 2021 and is in the growth phase, sharply criticizes the call for a strike and accuses the unions of exploiting passengers and the company for their political goals.
The conflict between Discover Airlines and the unions VC and Ufo revolves around collective bargaining agreements and house rules within the company. The unions are demanding that their own collective bargaining agreements be introduced for Discover Airlines staff, although an agreement has already been reached with the Verdi union.
Verdi had successfully concluded the first collective bargaining agreements for pilots and cabin crew, which included, among other things, salary increases of up to 38 percent for cabin crew and around 16 percent for pilots. This agreement was seen by Discover Airlines as a significant step forward in improving employees' working conditions and salaries.
However, the unions VC and Ufo criticize Verdi as an inadequate collective bargaining partner and claim that the union is treated preferentially by the company management. The conflict escalated further when the sector unions wanted to push through their own collective agreements. In their view, Verdi is not representative enough of the entire workforce, which underlines the need for a strike.
Reactions from Discover Airlines
Discover Airlines has strongly condemned the strike call by VC and Ufo and described it as "completely irresponsible". The company argues that the announced work stoppage during peak travel season is significantly detrimental to passengers and the airline's economic stability. "It is absolutely not in the interest of our employees to make passengers the victims of a conflict between unions that could have already been resolved by the agreement with Verdi," said a company spokesman.
The airline stressed that the negotiations with Verdi so far have led to a fair and comprehensive agreement and that the new collective agreements guarantee significant salary increases. This agreement is the result of intensive negotiations and should offer employees appropriate improvements.
Impact of the strike
The impact of the upcoming strike on Discover Airlines' flight operations could be significant. VC and Ufo have announced that all departures from Germany will be affected. The company will announce more detailed figures on the expected flight cancellations on Monday afternoon. The impact on operations was already limited in January, when the first industrial action took place, but the current strike could cause serious disruptions due to the peak travel season.
Discover Airlines, which operates with a comparatively small fleet of 27 aircraft and around 1.900 employees, relies on stable operational management to realize its growth plans through 2027. The planned expansion of the fleet to 33 aircraft is an important step for the airline to strengthen its market position and open up new target markets.
Political and trade union dimensions
The strike not only reflects internal conflicts at Discover Airlines, but also the larger union dispute within the aviation industry. The incident shows the power games and the complexity of the union landscape in German aviation. The demands of VC and Ufo are in the context of a broader discussion about the relevance and representation of unions in the industry.
The unions are trying to use the strike to put pressure on management to enforce their demands and possibly influence negotiations with Verdi. This could have long-term consequences for collective bargaining policy in the aviation industry, especially if other unions become involved in the conflict.
The strike call by VC and Ufo against Discover Airlines marks a critical moment for the company, especially given the current peak travel season. The dispute between the unions and the airline has far-reaching implications for operational stability and passenger welfare. While Discover Airlines views the situation as unjustified and damaging to its operational goals and its customers, it remains to be seen how negotiations will develop and whether an agreement can be reached to end the industrial action.
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