19,000 members voting on agreement
FRANKFURT (Reuters) — Cabin crew at Lufthansa are expected to vote in favour of a wide-ranging pay deal with the German carrier, bringing a long-running dispute to a close, according to a labour boss.
"Due to the massive response of members in the past few weeks I expect agreement," Nicoley Baublies, chief negotiator of cabin crew union UFO, told Reuters on Wednesday.
Members of UFO have been voting for almost seven weeks on whether to accept the deal, which comprises a 3.5 year pay deal, a change to pensions, and more flexible working conditions. The final result of the vote is due this evening.
Lufthansa said last month that the cabin crew deal would boost its earnings before interest and tax by several hundred million euros this year, allowing it to pay a dividend.
An agreement with around 19,000 cabin crew would mean that Lufthansa could now focus on a deal with its pilots on pay and conditions as it battles to reduce its labour costs.
However, talks between Lufthansa management and pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit broke down earlier this month and the two sides are currently reassessing their positions.
