Pilots' union pledges no strikes during talks with Lufthansa

German pilots will not stage costly strikes against national carrier Lufthansa while negotiations over a labour dispute continue, the head of their union was quoted as saying Sunday.
The president of pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit, Ilja Schulz, told Focus magazine in its edition to hit newsstands Monday that it had declared an at least temporary truce with Lufthansa.
"We are currently in talks again," said Schulz, whose union represents 9,300 pilots.
"We won't strike during the talks. The aim is to sign a wage agreement."
Lufthansa pilots have staged nine walkouts since April, forcing thousands of flight cancellations and taking a heavy toll on the company's earnings.
The pilots are striking over plans by management to raise the age at which they are able to take early retirement.
At present, pilots are allowed to retire at 55 and receive up to 60 percent of their pay until they reach the statutory retirement age, which is currently 65.
Germany last month also faced crippling railway strikes, and new industrial action hitting train travel could resume as early as this week.