Pilots warn Air Berlin with strikes in wage conflict

"German pilot association Cockpit warned on Friday low-cost carrier Air Berlin with staging strikes this week after talks on the new collective agreement came to a critical phase. The airline described the announcement as completely improper. The conflict was sparked by problems with the integration of airline LTU, acquired in 2007. Air Berlin claims the dispute concerning the wages of the 336 LTU pilots is the only open issue. The carrier has offered a pay rise by 2% with retroactive effect from January 1 and an inflation adjustment from April 1, 2010 onwards. Cockpit has rejected the offer as insufficient and demands a 5% payment hike. Protests of LTU's pilots already caused flight delays in the midst of the travel season on August 11."
Source: German News Digest