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Langen, 2 January 2007 German air traffic controllers' strike would be illegal DFS urges union to return to bargaining table DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is convinced that a strike of air traffic controllers would be illegal under the present circumstances. The company has informed the air navigation services union “Gewerkschaft der Flugsicherung” (GdF) of the new findings today and urged them to return to the bargaining table. Ever since the GdF declared in mid-November that talks on two collective bargaining issues had foundered, the union has not ceased threatening to go on strike. This would seriously affect air traffic in Germany. DFS has again asked different experts to examine the complex demands raised by the union. The experts finally agreed in stating that a strike for higher pay and a new salary structure would be illegal since these demands were connected to a collective agreement that was still in force – the Collective Framework Agreement of DFS. "Industrial peace" had to be kept as long as the collective agreements concerned had not been cancelled, they said. A strike would thus be illegal and could result in damage claims. The experts came to the same result when analysing the GdF demands concerning job security. The complex demands of GdF concerning higher pay and new salary structures would imply salary increases of 20 per cent within the next two years for German air traffic controllers. For certain categories of engineers and technicians at DFS, salaries would even increase by 70 per cent. According to DFS, the total cost of the demands, including pension provisions, would amount to € 230 million over the next two years. This sum corresponds to the company's equity capital. 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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