October 31, 2023 was the deadline for the selection of companies for the granting of two licenses for the provision of ground handling services. Finally, after more than a month, the licenses have been awarded by the competent ministry to Luxcargo Handling S.A. and Goldair Handling S.A. respectively.

For the record, at the end of May 2023, Luxair decided to withdraw from the tender for the “Ground handling cargo” licenses. At the same time, Cargolux decided to participate in the tender through a new subsidiary.

Since then, the situation for Luxair employees at the CargoCenter has become untenable, while the transfer of activities and personnel to a new company raises fundamental questions. These employees need stability and clear answers to their concerns.

For the unions, the Minister’s actions are unacceptable as the 1,200 CargoCenter employees continue to work in total ignorance of their social benefits, working conditions and job security!

Given the extreme urgency of the situation, the unions have requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Mobility and Public Works as soon as the new government is sworn in, but this has not yet been arranged.

The unions urge the Minister of Mobility and Public Works, representing the majority shareholder of Luxair and Cargolux, to do everything in her power to facilitate negotiations with the companies concerned as soon as possible in order to protect the assets and livelihoods of the CargoCenter workers.

For months, the unions have been informing and meeting with the various parties involved, including the former Minister of Mobility and Public Works and the companies Luxair and Cargolux.

However, negotiations to reach an overall agreement on the syndicates’ demands remained at an impasse, leading to a first protest picket on September 29.

On the eve of the end of the year holidays and less than a month before the transfer date of January 1, 2024, the 1,200 employees and their families remain in total uncertainty about their working conditions and their livelihood security.

In the absence of a rapid solution to the employees’ concerns, a major conflict at Luxair’s CargoCenter is inevitable.

Press release December 6, 2023