Lufthansa Cargo Executive Board and Works Council agree on short-time work

The Lufthansa Cargo Executive Board and Works Council have reached agreement on the introduction of short time. The details of a corresponding company accord are to be hammered out by a negotiating commission as soon as possible. Short time would affect around 2,600 employees of the Lufthansa cargo carrier in Germany. The envisaged measures will allow the Company to adapt staffing capacities flexibly to accommodate declining demand.

“Demand for airfreight capacities has fallen sharply, worldwide. The production halt in diverse industries has hit the entire international logistics business - and especially the air cargo industry,” said Lufthansa Cargo Chairman Carsten Spohr. “After scaling back our freighter capacities, flexible adjustment of staffing capacities has become inevitable in the Company’s present situation. We are nevertheless confident that we will be able to safeguard all jobs at Lufthansa Cargo.”

In December 2008, Lufthansa Cargo’s freight tonnage plummeted by 21.4 per cent compared with the year-earlier level. Demand was still at low level after the turn of the year owing to longer works holidays over Christmas, production cutbacks and short-time work in an array of industries.

“2009 will be a challenging year for us,” remarked Carsten Spohr. “But all in all we are confident that our flexibility, our strategic focus and quality lead will help us to emerge strengthened from the crisis.”

In the past, Lufthansa has demonstrated its steadfastness and strength of purpose in weathering crises and thereby safeguarding jobs. Its recruitment freeze across large areas in the Group back in mid-year 2008 is a measure of its foresight. The recruitment freeze is indefinite for the time being. Company staff have also been urged to work off overtime and make greater use of part-time models.