Annette Mann, CEO of the airline AUA, called on the union and works council to reconsider their demands on the first day of the 36-hour strike by on-board staff today: “After the hard development work of the last few years, we will not compromise our AUA through your unrealistic demands just let it be destroyed.” Mann, who made a short media statement, apologized to the affected passengers (as reported, more than 400 flights are canceled and more than 50,000 passengers will be rebooked if possible). They try to keep the impact as low as possible. She also addressed taxpayers: “We certainly haven’t forgotten that it was also Austrian tax money that ensured our company’s survival and saved many thousands of jobs.”
The union was disappointed because it had expected an offer to talk. In the past few days, both hands have been extended and alternatives suggested, but these hands were slapped away and threats were made, said Roman Hebenstreit from the vida union.
Agreement at Lufthansa
While an agreement at AUA seems a long way off following 17 rounds, parent Lufthansa has achieved a breakthrough in the dispute over a new collective agreement for the 25,000-person ground staff. This averts the threat of strikes over Easter.
