Talks hope

Verdi is open to new talks if Lufthansa improves its offer, said union leader Erhard Ott. Wage talks broke down on July 10.

"We've got to do everything we can to prevent this strike," said Klaus Lippold, a member of parliament and transport expert for the Christian Democrats. "Not only to save the holiday season but to prevent damage to Germany's air travel industry."

Rainer Wend, an economy expert in parliament for the Social Democrats, also spoke out against the strike.

"Even though one must accept a strike being a tool in a labor dispute, it's still unfortunate that innocent bystanders and holiday travelers will be hurt by the strike more than the union's opponents," Wend told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

Last week, Lufthansa canceled almost 1,000 regional flights at its Eurowings and CityLine subsidiaries after pilots walked out in a separate pay dispute.

While Europe's biggest economy is experiencing a spike in inflation, several labor unions are seeking bigger wage deals after restraint in recent years.

(Shanghai Daily July 28, 2008)