GdF only granted interim court order for the right to strike (22 July)


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Langen, 22 July 2004

Ruling on urgent procedure at labour court of Hesse

GdF only granted interim court order for the right to strike
In its decision of 22 July, the labour court of the Land of Hesse ruled against DFS and passed the judgement that the new air traffic controllers’ association GdF e.V. may take industrial action. However, as this decision was made in the context of an urgent procedure, it only grants the association an interim court order.

DFS is still of the opinion that the GdF e.V. is not a trade union with collective bargaining powers. This opinion can only be confirmed with legal certainty by the final judgement of the main trial which is assessing the capacity of the GdF e.V. to function as a trade union. If industrial action is taken before the final judgement is made, then air traffic controllers could be faced with incalculable claims for damages, as emphasised by the labour court of Hesse on several occasions.

The reasons for the labour court’s judgement are not yet available in writing. When this paper is made available, DFS assumes that it will hold collective bargaining talks with the GdF e.V. In this way, not only will DFS be complying with the interim court decision, it will also be endeavouring to prevent a labour dispute which would be detrimental to air traffic in and over Germany.

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is a State-owned company under private law and has 5,200 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual handling of flights. Staff coordinate around 10,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and more than three million movements every year. With this large number of flights, Germany has the highest traffic volume in Europe. DFS operates control centres in Langen, Bremen, Karlsruhe and Munich. In addition, DFS is represented in the Eurocontrol Centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and in the control towers of the 16 international German airports. DFS provides training and consultancy services around the world and develops and sells air traffic control, surveillance and navigation systems. The company's portfolio also comprises flight-relevant data, aeronautical publications and aeronautical information services. DFS has the following business units: Control Centre, Tower, Aeronautical Solutions and Aeronautical Information Management.


16/01/2009	PRINT