The discussion between the German airline Lufthansa and its Indian cabin crew, who had been terminated, did not lead to an out-of-court settlement.

Employees will now petition the central government’s Labor Court under the Labor Disputes Act.

Sources close to development said that Lufthansa management invited the employee representatives to an out-of-court settlement meeting on February 25th.

One of the workers’ representatives said management said, “Reinstatement is out of the question, but they can see if they offer a voluntary payment. We in turn informed them that we did not come for a voluntary payment, but to get our jobs back, which they (Lufthansa) refused. “

Heena Gurpreet Singh, one of the fired flight attendants who spent over a decade with the airline, said: “Lufthansa is determined not to give our jobs back. They made the entire meeting a mockery of themselves by offering the employees 0.75 percent of the voluntary payment. ”

Lufthansa did not answer Business line‘s query.

The workers’ union has already filed a petition under Sections 2-A, 9 (A), 10 (1) and 33 of the Industrial Dispute Act in the Central Government Labor Court. Senior Advocate Mohan Bir Singh has filed for the management to be prosecuted on behalf of the employees.

The Lufthansa management had terminated the positions after the employees had not agreed to go on unpaid vacation for two years. “We are ready to consider four years vacation at half pay,” said Singh.

“We are ready to agree on legal terms, provided the unlawful terminations are revoked,” he added.