Deutsche Bahn and GDL continue negotiations - outcome uncertain
The train drivers' union GDL and Deutsche Bahn will continue their second round of negotiations on new collective agreements on Friday after hours of negotiations the day before. According to Deutsche Bahn, the teams are scheduled to meet in Berlin at 10.00 am. There was initially no information about the course of the talks and possible results from Thursday. There was also initially no new information on a possible further warning strike by the GDL.
A week ago, the GDL hit rail traffic across Germany hard with a 20-hour work stoppage. Thousands of trains were canceled. Shortly afterwards, the union announced a ballot of its members on indefinite strikes. The second round of negotiations began under difficult circumstances.
As there was silence about the course of the negotiations, the most conspicuous development on Thursday was the absence of GDL boss Claus Weselsky for several hours. He only arrived at the negotiating venue in the evening. Shortly afterwards, a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson announced that further talks had been postponed until Friday. GDL deputy head Lars Jedinat had justified Weselsky's absence with other union appointments.
The GDL is demanding 555 euros more per month as well as an inflation compensation bonus for a period of one year. Deutsche Bahn presented the union with an offer in the first round, in which it promised an eleven percent pay increase over a period of 32 months.
"The next warning strike is sure to come"
The crux of the wage dispute is the GDL's demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers with full pay. Martin Seiler, Deutsche Bahn's head of personnel, considers the demand to be unrealizable and sees no room for manoeuvre at this point.
A solution to the conflict with the GDL without further industrial action is rather unlikely despite the efforts at the negotiating table. "The next warning strike is sure to come. We won't take too much time," said Weselsky in an interview a few days ago. No concrete announcement of such industrial action has yet been made.
Whether the union can also threaten indefinite strikes will be determined at the end of the year. The result of the ballot is to be announced around Christmas. For indefinite strikes, Weselsky needs the approval of 75 percent of those taking part in the ballot.
The ongoing negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the GDL could potentially lead to new traffic disruptions if tariff agreements aren't reached, given the union's history of work stoppages. According to GDL deputy head Lars Jedinat, tariffs, including wages and working hours, are key issues in these talks.
Source: www.dpa.com
