July 28 - Cargolux Airlines and Luxembourg's OGBL union have reached an agreement on the main points of a new collective work agreement, effective October 2015 and covering three years.
The declaration of intent represents a breakthrough in negotiations that have been ongoing since September 2014.
In addition to largely preserving the working conditions for existing staff, the agreement also demands that Cargolux will offer significantly more part-time contracts; offer newly hired pilots more available duty days, which should lead to improvement in the productivity of flight operations; as well implement the new European Flight Time Limitations.
Terms of the agreement also include new pay scales for crew and ground staff; paid lunch breaks for shift personnel; a harmonised travel and hotel policy across ground and flight crews; a cap on the number of aircraft at Cargolux Italia; and a new profit share system to increase employee participation.
The airline will also introduce an enhanced fidelity premium package, while plans for a time unit freeze have been abandoned.
Both parties intend to finalise the details and final text of the collective work agreement with the aim of signing the new agreement on September 16.
