United Airlines pulled the plug on the Frankfurt crew base, which had existed since 1997, in a night-and-fog operation: After a brief announcement, the employees were dismissed "almost overnight" on October 1st without notice. Now those affected are taking the US carrier to court.
The workforce was amazed when they found a letter in their mailbox on the morning of October 1st to terminate their employment with immediate effect. According to a report by airliners also almost 100 flight attendants, each with over 20 years with the company. They are now of the opinion that the dismissal without notice is invalid as it contradicts German labor law. To this end, all parties met at the Frankfurt labor court at the end of November and forced an out-of-court settlement. But it never came to that.
Because United, as a US airline, does not feel bound by German labor law and therefore rejects German jurisdiction. In Germany, there must be good reasons to get a dismissal without observing a notice period. For example, refusal to work, theft or embezzlement. In the United States, on the other hand, such a practice would be commonplace, the airline lawyer suggests. The judge was outraged about such a termination process. Especially in Corona times, dismissal without any kind of courtesy is out of place. There would be enough alternatives. Nonetheless, this dispute is being negotiated. Chamber appointments for hearing the lawsuits have now been scheduled for May 27, June 10 and June 17, 2021.
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