Cargolux and LCGB union battle each other

JULY 24, 2015: Luxembourg airline Cargolux is considering legal action after a quarter of its flights were left delayed by pilots declaring themselves unfit to fly en masse.

Over a quarter of crew members said they were unfit to fly, leaving a number of flights grounded in the morning. Cargolux said that 76 percent of flights were operating normally.

The freight airline also slammed allegations by the LCGB labour union that it was operating under conditions compromising flight safety. Citing audits by the Luxembourg Civil Aviation Authority, the International Air Transport Association and the European Aviation Safety Agency, Cargolux said it “complies with all applicable regulations and also all safety processes are up to date and following industry practices.”

Cargolux said that it had received court confirmation that protest was illegal. “Earlier today, a court ordered the immediate stoppage of the action,” a statement issued by Cargolux said. “Based on today’s court order, Cargolux will claim compensation for the harm suffered as a result of the disruption of its business.”

Negotiations for a new collective work agreement between airline management and labour unions are still ongoing in a conciliation procedure. Cargolux said that the LCGB cannot carry out this type of action while the talks are ongoing and a valid collective work agreement is in place.

“LCGB’s unlawful industrial action and its ongoing negative campaign against Cargolux are based on misleading statements, deceiving not only the public but also Cargolux’s employees and LCGB’s own members,” the statement continued.