On 27 April 2018 the LCGB sent an official letter to Cargolux management with the request to officially engage in negotiations for an adjusted Collective Work Agreement (CWA). An invitation to the OGBL was extended already in early April to sign a joint request to enter in negotiations. Unfortunately, the OGBL did not reply to this request.
With a net profit of US$122,3 million – which includes an operating profit of more than US$220 million – and a record breaking production of more than 1 million block hours, 2017 has been the best year in the company’s 48 years history! After many years of ups-and-downs in the international airfreight business and with the present CWA expiring after 30 November 2018, the LCGB firmly believes, after consulting its members, that it is in the best interest of the staff and the company to engage in negotiations for a new CWA sooner than later.
In the interest of all parties involved, proven rules and achievements from the past must be reinstated. These include but are not limited to an attractive remuneration scheme, which considers the cost of living in Luxembourg, a scheme that honours the experience and dedication of Cargolux pilots as well as the reintroduction of effective measures to reduce work related fatigue levels to a sustainable reasonable one.
Our claims are based on the survey conducted in early 2017, which provided us with a clear understanding of the needs of the Cargolux pilot community. These claims will be compiled in a list, which will be made available to you in due time.
It is now up to Cargolux management to accept this request and schedule an initial meeting with the unions to engage in earnest negotiation for a renewed CWA. It will be interesting to see, if management is willing to start negotiations with the same enthusiasm we have seen when the record result was announced.
