Lufthansa’s wage dispute with Verdi union reaches a stalemate over pay demands

A €3,000 inflation bonus wasn’t enough. Verdi demands 12.5% raises, leaving Lufthansa’s negotiations—and 25,000 airport workers—in limbo.

, and Administrator

2025 November 14 . 5:08 PM

1 min read

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Lufthansa’s wage dispute with Verdi union reaches a stalemate over pay demands

Lufthansa's efforts to resolve its wage dispute with ground staff have hit a snag. The Verdi union has dismissed the airline's latest offer as insufficient, describing it as mere 'baby steps'. Negotiations have reached a deadlock, with no compromise in sight despite multiple warning strikes.

Verdi's negotiation leaders, Marvin Reschinsky for Lufthansa and Michael Aschenbach for TÜV Bund, have been at the forefront of these discussions. The union is now set to assess Lufthansa's new offer with its rank-and-file members before deciding on the next steps. Lufthansa had proposed immediate financial incentives, including accelerated pay increases and a €3,000 inflation compensation bonus, but Verdi insists on a 12.5% pay rise and the inflation compensation within a 12-month contract period.

Meanwhile, parallel talks between Verdi and aviation security firms are ongoing in Berlin. These discussions focus on wages and working conditions for approximately 25,000 airport employees.

With no breakthrough in sight, both parties remain at an impasse. Verdi's assessment of Lufthansa's offer will determine the next course of action. The ongoing talks with aviation security firms highlight the broader impact of the wage dispute on the aviation industry.