German court rejects airlines' suit for strike compensation

A German court threw out Monday a lawsuit by two airlines and the operator of Frankfurt airport for compensation from a labour union to cover losses incurred by strike action by some of its members last year.

Frankfurt's labour court rejected an application from airlines Lufthansa, Air Berlin and airport operator Fraport for 9.2 million euros ($11.9 million) in compensation from the air traffic controllers' union GdF.

The companies had sued the GdF after airport tarmac workers -- who direct aircraft in and out of their parking positions from the control tower and on the tarmac -- staged a series of walkouts in February 2012 over demands for higher pay and bonuses and reduced working hours.

The court ruled that the airlines were not entitled to compensation because the union's planned strike actions had not targeted the airlines themselves, but the air traffic controllers' employers, the DFS, in a pay dispute.

The court said the airlines can appeal its ruling.

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130325/german-court-rejects-airlines-suit-strike-compensation