I think it’s pretty obscene for LH pilots to strike over pensions. So they now have a DCS (defined contribution scheme) instead of a DBS (defined benefit scheme.) Countless DBS have been closed to new members all over the world.
Because pilots earn a lot, they can pay in a lot, despite the fact that many have to repay debt from training. And DCS generally perform well- they can average 10-15% per annum over time. Besides, earning the salaries they do, they should be able to save enough throughout their career to not need a pension at all, so anything they do get on retirement is just a bonus. It’s just no longer realistic to expect a bridging pension when they’re not forced to retire, and then in any case a nice regular pension guaranteed for the rest of their lives, on top of the basic German state pension. Their complaint is that they have to live slightly more modest lives than their predecessors to make their arrangements for old age work… But millions across the world have had to accept similar. They’re not special.