December 10 - Collective work agreement (CWA) talks between Cargolux management and the unions were cut short after LCGB backtracked on the principle agreement reached on December 1.
HLPFI reported on December 2 that a major breakthrough had been reached between Cargolux and two of the unions representing its crews - OGBL and LCGB - possibly ending a 15-month-long dispute that had appeared to be headed toward a strike.
Cargolux explained that LCGB had "declared unexpectedly" to all involved in a meeting on December 9 that they considered the negotiations to have failed since "management was not prepared to accept their demands".
Accordingly, Cargolux suggested that LCGB and its members are "seemingly unable to accept responsibility for job security and growth in Luxembourg and to accept the necessity of inevitable change".
The airline added that it "cannot help but wonder" about the reliability and credibility of a social partner that agrees on certain compromises, only to negate its own decision days later.
In light of LCGB's refusal to continue negotiations, Cargolux confirmed that its management, along with CLSC (Confédération Luxembourgeoise des Syndicats Chrétiens) and OGBL, will secure the significant achievements negotiated during the past 15 months and confirm the parties' intention to sign a new CWA this week.
According to Cargolux, before this latest meeting, the parties had reached a principle agreement on the main terms and the final wording hinged solely on items relating to pilots. It says that it had already agreed with OGBL, CLSC and LCGB on all points concerning Cargolux ground staff.
With regards to pilot matters, Cargolux claims that LCGB has since repeatedly raised new claims and "showed little if any willingness to compromise" on items concerning its flying members and representatives.
In the latest meeting, Cargolux explained that LCGB was invited to produce a list of all its demands for the management's consideration, but refused to do so.
The all-cargo carrier says that it regrets that LCGB has terminated the negotiations at this late stage when an agreement was within reach.
Cargolux stated that LCGB "seemingly does not care" about the negative implications of its decision on the airline's employees - of which, Cargolux says, pilots are in minority - together with the impact on the economic interests of Luxembourg.
However, said the freighter airline, clearly OGBL and CLSC do care, and it is for this reason that Cargolux, OGBL and CLSC are ready to seal a new CWA based on the terms agreed during many months of negotiations.
