The strike at freighter operator Cargolux has come to an end as the airline and workers reached an agreement on a new pay deal, reports HLPFI’s sister publication Air Cargo News.
The airline said on Saturday that it had reached an agreement with the LCGB and OGBL unions after more than two days of industrial action that resulted in the cancellation of many flights.
“Cargolux, LCGB and OGBL are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached for the basis of a new collective working agreement (CWA) between all parties, including the four blocking points regarding a salary increase envelop of 5.5 percent,” said a statement on Cargolux’s website.
The CWA will covers the period from September 1 to August 31, 2027. It also includes a revised salary scale for maintenance technical staff, an indexation protection and a company policy regarding working from home.
“Following this, the strike will cease with immediate effect and all striking CWA employees will return to work,” Cargolux said. “The negotiations were conducted in the presence of the president and chief executive of Cargolux, the national president of LCGB and the president of OGBL. This sets the future of an enhanced social dialog between Cargolux and the unions, taking into account the requirements of all parties.”
The unions had asked for a 6 percent increase in salary for the duration of a new collective working agreement. The unions also wanted to include protections against inflation, a new salary structure for ground staff and rules governing home working.
They said a 4 percent pay rise offered by the airline was “insufficient compared to the excellent results of recent years and in the face of inflation”. The airline, meanwhile, said that it had offered a 5 percent pay rise and pointed to the large bonuses workers had received in recent years.