After the snowstorm, the train drivers go on strike: chaos follows with short notice

German Railways - After the snowstorm, the train drivers go on strike: chaos follows with short notice

Train travelers need to take a deep breath now, because it's starting again. For the fourth time this year, the train drivers' union GDL has called on its members to walk off the job - in keeping with the snow chaos and pre-Christmas period. The strike at Deutsche Bahn (DB) is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. this Thursday evening and end at 10 p.m. this Friday evening. Disruptions are expected even before the warning strike begins, as well as afterwards. According to Deutsche Bahn, it expects "massive effects" for passengers during the strike. The company has announced that it will inform customers as quickly and comprehensively as possible. An emergency timetable with a greatly reduced service will apply during the strike.

Employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn operations in Berlin and Hamburg, as well as the railroad companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz and other companies have been called to take part in the warning strike. According to the announcement, the freight transport strike will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening. The strike on Friday, which is a busy day for travel, will disrupt the plans of thousands of passengers. They can postpone their journey planned for this Thursday or Friday and use their ticket at another time. The train commitment has been canceled, the railroad announced. Reservations can be canceled free of charge.

Last rail strike this year

The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) wants to increase the pressure in the current collective bargaining round with this action. Among other things, it wants to emphasize its demand for a reduction in working hours for shift workers. "The employer side is stonewalling everywhere and is not prepared to give employees the appreciation and recognition they deserve for the work they do," criticized the union.

However, passengers can at least breathe a sigh of relief in one respect: there will be no further warning strikes until January 7 and the busy public holidays will be spared from industrial action. "We will now carry out this strike action on Thursday and Friday, and it will be the last one for this year," said GDL boss Weselsky on Wednesday evening on MDR-aktuell. "Then comes the ballot and the count on December 19. And there will be no more industrial action, not even in the first week of January."

The timing of the warning strike announcement on Wednesday evening was met with displeasure by the passenger association Pro Bahn. "What we criticize is the short notice. We would like it to be announced two days in advance when the strike will take place so that passengers can prepare for it," said national chairman Detlef Neuß. Protests by strikers are planned in Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich. GDL members also want to campaign for their demands in Postdam, the venue for the ongoing wage negotiations for the public service of the federal states. The same applies to the railroads as to the public sector, said Ulrich Silberbach, Chairman of the German Civil Service Association. "If you want to attract and retain qualified specialists, you have to offer attractive and competitive working conditions."

Deutsche Bahn criticizes strike as "irresponsible and selfish"

Deutsche Bahn criticized the GDL for spoiling the second Advent weekend for millions of uninvolved people. A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so shortly before the timetable change was irresponsible and selfish, criticized Martin Seiler, member of the Deutsche Bahn Board of Management for Human Resources. "Instead of negotiating and facing up to reality, the train drivers' union is going on strike for unfulfillable demands. This is absolutely unnecessary."

The train drivers' union GDL is demanding a reduction in weekly working hours from the current 38 hours to 35 hours with full pay compensation. Deutsche Bahn rejected this as unfeasible in view of the shortage of skilled workers. "The companies are not only ignoring the legitimate needs of their own employees," explained GDL boss Weselsky. "They are also torpedoing the urgently needed measures for successful recruitment."

The union is also demanding a one-year wage increase of 555 euros and an inflation bonus of 3000 euros. So far, Deutsche Bahn has submitted an offer that provides for an eleven percent wage increase and an inflation bonus of up to 2850 euros - stretched over a term of 32 months. At the same time, a ballot of GDL members on more frequent and longer industrial action is currently underway. According to GDL boss Weselsky, the vote will be counted before Christmas.

The GDL last called a warning strike at Deutsche Bahn on November 15 and 16. In March and April, the larger railroad and transport union (EVG) had called warning strikes for one day each. A ballot on indefinite strikes is already underway in the unusually tough collective bargaining round for train drivers.