Following two years of intensive negotiations, the Executive Board of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH and the air navigation services union (GdF) finally agreed on a comprehensive collective bargaining package "Zukunft DFS" or "Future of DFS" yesterday evening. This will come into force on 1 January 2025.
On over 70 days of negotiation, the trade union and the employer had to accept certain compromises that were quite painful for both sides. Nevertheless, the collective bargaining talks were characterised by a willingness to negotiate responsibly and in the interests of the entire aviation industry - not least since it is still recovering from the greatest crisis in its history.
DFS and GdF strongly believe that the collective agreement will enable DFS to help shape the future of aviation both effectively and sustainably.
The central agreements reached are as follows:
Uniform pay increase for all employee groups
Realignment of the company pension scheme
More precise definition of job profiles for all employees working in operational services
Standardisation of career models in other areas
Increased flexibility in terms of operational staff scheduling
The agreement is still pending approval. Further details will be provided once the consultations will be completed on Friday.
Media contact:
Robert Ertler
Telephone: +49 (0)6103 / 707 4160
E-mail: presse@dfs.de
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with 5,700 employees as at 31/12/2023. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary, DFS Aviation Services GmbH, markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the United Kingdom. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.