A major German trade union, Verdi, has called for a Lufthansa ground staff strike in Germany on Thursday and Friday, March 7 and 8, in a bid to increase pressure ahead of another round of negotiations the following week.

The strike is expected to commence at 4 a.m. on Thursday morning (0300 GMT/UTC) and continue until 7:10 a.m. on Saturday, potentially causing delays and cancellations. Previous strikes have disrupted flights and drawn criticism from Lufthansa, with around 100,000 passengers impacted during the last strike on February 20, and cargo services being the focus of the second strike on February 28.

Verdi negotiator Marvin Reschinsky emphasized that the upcoming strike will be tailored to impact passenger flights, marking a deliberate shift in strategy. The trade union, representing approximately 25,000 employees, is seeking pay rises of 12% or a minimum of €500 ($542) per month for the workers it represents. However, Lufthansa’s offered pay increases over an extended period have failed to meet Verdi’s demands.

Marvin Reschinsky criticized Lufthansa’s stance, highlighting the company’s record annual performance and increased board bonuses while ground staff with hourly wages as low as €13 struggle to make ends meet in expensive cities. The fifth round of talks is scheduled for March 13 and 14, with Verdi refusing to return to the negotiating table earlier unless Lufthansa presents an improved offer in advance, a move that has been criticized by the airline.

Aside from impacting air travel, the strikes in Germany have also disrupted trains and public transport services in recent weeks, with negotiations showing no signs of a breakthrough.