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| Lufthansa workers strike over pay | Lufthansa workers strike over pay |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ground crew and cabin staff at Germany's biggest airline, Lufthansa, have begun an indefinite strike. | Ground crew and cabin staff at Germany's biggest airline, Lufthansa, have begun an indefinite strike. |
| The Verdi public sector union called the strike after 90.7% of its members supported the walk-out over pay. | The Verdi public sector union called the strike after 90.7% of its members supported the walk-out over pay. |
| The union wants a pay rise of 9.8%, while the airline is offering 6.7% in two stages, according to the union. | The union wants a pay rise of 9.8%, while the airline is offering 6.7% in two stages, according to the union. |
| Lufthansa, which like other airlines is also being squeezed by rising fuel bills, said the stoppage had so far barely disrupted flights. | Lufthansa, which like other airlines is also being squeezed by rising fuel bills, said the stoppage had so far barely disrupted flights. |
| "Almost 100% of our flights are flying on time," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther told Germany's ZDF channel. | "Almost 100% of our flights are flying on time," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther told Germany's ZDF channel. |
| Lufthansa transports 150,000 people daily on average, and July is one of its busiest months. | |
| However, union negotiator Erhard Ott said that the effects of the strike would "likely grow in the course of the day and in coming days". | However, union negotiator Erhard Ott said that the effects of the strike would "likely grow in the course of the day and in coming days". |
| Verdi represents 52,000 air industry workers. | |
| Demands for higher pay come as inflation in Europe's largest economy has quickened. | Demands for higher pay come as inflation in Europe's largest economy has quickened. |
| As well as workers in the airline industry, rail workers and teachers went on strike earlier this year demanding higher pay. | As well as workers in the airline industry, rail workers and teachers went on strike earlier this year demanding higher pay. |
| The European Central Bank increased interest rates earlier this month for the first time in a year in an attempt to control inflation, which is at record levels in the eurozone. |