Cockpit union proposes Bodo Ramelow as mediator in Lufthansa pay dispute

The pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit has put forward Bodo Ramelow, deputy president of the German Bundestag and former state premier of Thuringia, as a mediator in its pay dispute with Lufthansa.

According to the union, both sides have agreed on a procedural arrangement clearing the way for three separate arbitration processes, with Lufthansa and the union each naming their own mediator for the talks.

Ramelow is said to be forgoing his fee for the role. The union stated the amount would instead be split between an educational aviation project at Erfurt-Weimar Airport and an aviation museum in Altenburg-Nobitz.

The union noted that Ramelow has previous experience acting as a mediator, though no further detail on past cases was given. No date has yet been set for when the arbitration proceedings will begin.