Lufthansa cabin crew union stages all-day strike at smaller airlines

Reuters
Updated

(Adds Lufthansa statement)

FRANKFURT, Oct 20 (Reuters) - German flight attendants' union UFO on Sunday said it would stage an all-day strike at smaller German divisions of airline group Lufthansa in an escalating row over workers' pay and pensions.

The walkout at Lufthansa brands Germanwings, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Line and Sunexpress had initially been scheduled for 0300-0900 GMT but the union in a statement on Sunday said industrial action would now be extended until midnight local time (2200 GMT), citing threats made by the airline over jobs as reason.

A Lufthansa spokesman said the strike was illegal because UFO's status as a union negotiating on behalf of staff was in doubt.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Elke Ahlswede. Editing by Jane Merriman)