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Langen, 8 April 2010 Collective bargaining talks failed The collective bargaining talks between DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH and the air navigation services union “Gewerkschaft der Flugsicherung” (GdF) have broken down. However, DFS considers a strike by air traffic controllers at present as improbable. The collective bargaining had addressed the issue of workload-related compensation for air traffic controllers. This covered the different hours that controllers have to work depending on their workloads. Air traffic controllers have workloads that vary in terms of traffic volume and complexity and are assessed on a regular basis, with the collective agreements adjusted where necessary. This year was the first time that the negotiations were held in conjunction with talks about joint staff planning. The union had recently proposed holding these talks to solve the staff problems that DFS is currently experiencing at two control centres. The union had indicated that it would make certain concessions with a view to increasing the flexibility of staff scheduling. In the negotiations, however, the trade union stood by its demand for shorter working hours even at airports with declining traffic volumes. This would have made it necessary to increase the number of staff. The union, for example, called for more tower staff at Saarbrücken Airport, even though this airport recorded a 13.5 percent traffic decline last year and is among the airports in Germany with the lowest traffic volumes. The union categorically rejected those solutions proposed by DFS that would have taken account of the drop in traffic. “I cannot comprehend the union demands,” commented Jens Bergmann, the DFS Labour Director. “On the one hand, we are negotiating about how we can reduce staff shortages and delays in air traffic, while, on the other hand, the union is making demands that would further aggravate the staff situation. That just does not make any sense." He is, therefore, calling on the union to return to the negotiating table. “If we are really serious about jointly solving the staff situation and, at the same time, delivering high punctuality figures while maintaining an excellent safety level, then we will have to use the right means. Acceding to demands which are non-justifiable is simply not an option as far as we are concerned.” DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law and has 5,600 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Staff coordinate up to 10,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and nearly three million movements every year. This makes Germany the country with 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 management systems, surveillance systems and navigation aids. 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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