International Day of Action in support of LSG Sky Chefs workers in the United States

Posted to the IUF website 11-Oct-2002

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On October 11, LSG Sky Chefs workers across Europe are holding a day of action in support of their sisters and brothers in the United States. The union representing these workers, HERE, has been struggling since April 2000 to negotiate a collective agreement with Lufthansa German Airline�s catering subsidiary, LSG Sky Chefs, the world�s number one airline catering company.

Support for the US workers and their union � who say the company�s refusal to negotiate has left them unable to resolve concerns about deteriorating working conditions and abusive practices � is being co-ordinated by the IUF and the ITF, the International Transport Workers� Federation, and their affiliates. On October 11, LSG Sky Chefs workers at airports in Europe will wear badges in solidarity with their colleagues across the Atlantic � who will be wearing their own badges at the same time � and will present a Statement of Solidarity and Concern to their managers.

The statement expresses �concern at the failure of LSG Sky Chefs to negotiate an acceptable collective agreement for its 10,000 employees in the US� and �reports of poor treatment, unsafe working conditions and the high cost of health insurance provided to a low-wage workforce�. It continues, �these issues must be immediately addressed and corrected through negotiations with HERE, the union representing LSG Sky Chefs workers in the United States.�

IUF General Secretary Ron Oswald said, �LSG Sky Chefs workers are no longer prepared to accept poor treatment and are standing up for fairness and respect. IUF and ITF members around the world are joining in a show of common commitment to supporting these workers and HERE. LSG and Lufthansa corporate offices should understand our message and respond with serious negotiations for a decent collective agreement.�

For more information, see our report on the US LSG Sky Chefs workers campaign for fair and decent treatment which includes a link to HERE's LSG Sky Chefs Alert website.

What you can do

Write to Lufthansa, urging good faith negotiations with the union and fair treatment for LSG Sky Chefs employees. The message below may serve as a model.

Kindly send copies of any messages you might send to HERE (Fax + 1 202 393 0502, E-mail: [email protected]) and to the IUF secretariat (Fax + 41 22 793 22 33, E-mail: [email protected]).

You can also send a message through LabourStart�s SolidarityForever! page.

We thank you in advance for your solidarity and support.

Message to Lufthansa

Dr. Juergen Weber, Chairman and CEO
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
[email protected]
Fax: +49 69 696 4151

Dear Dr. Weber,

We are writing to express our concern at the failure of your catering division, LSG Sky Chefs, to negotiate an acceptable collective agreement for its ten thousand employees in the United States. These employees have been trying to negotiate a new agreement since April 2000. A collective agreement negotiated with representative unions is a basic right for working people.

In particular, we are concerned over reports of poor treatment, unsafe working conditions and the high cost of health insurance provided to a low-wage workforce. We feel that these issues must be immediately addressed and corrected through negotiations with HERE, the union representing LSG Sky Chefs workers in the United States.

Poor treatment of employees and unsafe working conditions have the real potential of causing damage to the business and reputation of a company. It is important that this dispute be settled quickly and we encourage you to take steps to that end.

Yours sincerely,

copies to:
Hanns Rech, Chairman and CEO, LSG Sky Chefs
[email protected]
Fax: +49 6192 974 111

Randall Boyd, Executive Board Member, LSG Sky Chefs
[email protected]
Fax: +1 817 792 5504