Wage deal struck to save jobs at Lauda pending Ryanair's OK

A collective wage agreement aimed at saving airline Lauda’s Vienna base has been agreed by business and labour groups who will now need the approval of parent company Ryanair. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary had threatened to close Lauda’s main hub in the Austrian capital and instead bring in Ryanair jets unless staff agreed to a pay cut and a new labour agreement. Lauda said on Friday it was shutting down its Vienna base after failing to reach a pay agreement with the union in a move expected to involve the loss of around 370 jobs. But Austria’s Vida union and the Chamber of Commerce (WKO), which represents businesses in negotiations with unions, said in separate statements on Thursday that they had struck a deal. “After long and difficult negotiations and repeated attempts by the WKO to bring about a compromise, a solution for a collective wage agreement was achieved on Wednesday night,” the WKO said. The Vida union said the deal lasting until 2023 involved a gross monthly wage of 1,440 euros ($1,613) for flight attendants and 2,000 euros for co-pilots. Lauda management and Ryanair have yet to give their approval, Vida said.<br/>