Austrian Airlines canceled more than 100 flights on Tuesday because on-board personnel gathered to deliberate the latest wage offer, adding to disruptions sweeping the European aviation industry in the run-up to the busy Easter travel season.
(Bloomberg) — Austrian Airlines canceled more than 100 flights on Tuesday because on-board personnel gathered to deliberate the latest wage offer, adding to disruptions sweeping the European aviation industry in the run-up to the busy Easter travel season.
The company has offered a wage increase of as much as 12.3%, according to the Chamber of Commerce in Austria. Worker representatives said the actual raise is lower and only applies to some employees, while most would have to contend with 8.5% on average. At their meeting at Vienna airport attended by about 1,200 employees, workers rejected the latest proposal, according to a statement.
The congregation started at 9 a.m. in Vienna on Tuesday. A similar gathering earlier this month turned into a warning strike lasting into the early afternoon.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the owner of Austrian Airlines, grounded flights in Germany on Monday amid a similar dispute over salaries. In France, protesters have clashed with police, opposing plans to raise the minimum retirement age. And in the UK, British Airways canceled flights over the Easter vacation because of protests at Heathrow airport ground staff.
Austria’s state-owned railways operator raised wages by an average 8.9% in December following a day-long strike.
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(Corrects story to clarify cancellations caused by a gathering, not a strike.)
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