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Langen, 5 January 2007 DFS prepares arbitration procedure Air traffic controllers' union rejects offer of 5.7 per cent DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is preparing an arbitration procedure after the air navigation services union “Gewerkschaft der Flugsicherung” (GdF) rejected the negotiation proposal of DFS. The offer averaging about 5.7 per cent is based on a 3 per cent salary increase across the board and a one-time payment of €1,750. If the GdF calls for a strike, the initiation of an arbitration procedure would immediately re-instate the obligation to keep industrial peace, preventing a strike for the time being. DFS is disappointed that the union has rejected as "unnegotiable" an offer which is unique in the German collective bargaining landscape. Nevertheless, DFS urges the GdF to return to the bargaining table, saying that an agreement could still be reached even without the arbitration procedure. In addition, DFS is of the opinion that even in times of bargaining disputes the truth must not be sacrificed. This refers to statements made by a GdF spokesman which are clearly far from the truth. DFS has neither spied on nor threatened a union leader nor has the company declared that it intends to pay lower salaries for certain staff categories. This must be regarded as unionist strike rhetoric used to conceal that the specialist staff categories at DFS are planning a self-serving raid in the form of new salary structures. The demanded salary increases of 70 per cent for certain categories of technicians and engineers clearly demonstrate this, even if the union constantly repeats that it only demands a pay rise of 4 per cent. DFS has always assured that its staff would benefit from the economic success of the company. And the company has kept its promise. The current salary levels of the majority of German air traffic controllers which amount to approximately €100,000 per year clearly show how serious DFS is about fulfilling this self-imposed commitment. The claim that air traffic controllers in other countries, such as Portugal or the United States, earn more money than their German counterparts must also be put into perspective. Countries with higher salaries also have much longer working hours. 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.
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