Deutsche Bahn: Uncertain progress of the collective bargaining round with GDL is unpleasant for travelers
The collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and the GDL began at the start of November. Talks were originally planned for this Tuesday and Wednesday as well as next week - however, the train drivers' union declared the wage negotiations to have failed a week and a half ago and announced new warning strikes. At the same time, a ballot is being held on more frequent and longer industrial action. Since then, everything has been on hold and there has been no announcement regarding the duration and timing of new strikes.
Above all, the GDL accuses Deutsche Bahn of not wanting to negotiate its core demand of shorter weekly working hours. In addition to more pay for shift workers, it wants a 35-hour week, currently 38 hours. Deutsche Bahn does not consider this demand to be feasible.
"I can't bring any news with me," said Stauß on ARD about the status of the stalled wage negotiations with Deutsche Bahn. Deutsche Bahn regrets that the negotiations have been declared a failure and that a solution needs to be found at the negotiating table. Deutsche Bahn is preparing for new strikes "as well as possible".
A GDL spokesperson also explained that "the GDL has broken off the wage negotiations because DB does not want to negotiate our demands". The GDL will comment again "in due course". The union accused Deutsche Bahn of "persisting in its ignorant blockade attitude" and thus accepting "further industrial action ".
On the other hand, the union reported successes on another front: the railroad company Transdev had shown itself willing to discuss a reduction in weekly working hours, the GDL announced. Negotiations would therefore continue on Tuesday. At Netinera, talks on the core issue of reducing working hours are "well advanced". A conclusion could be reached next week.
Transdev and Netinera each operate a number of regional railroads in several federal states. For the duration of the negotiations, the GDL will not call strikes at the companies, the union explained. At Transdev, the railroad company is prepared to talk about a 35-hour week with five working days. The union did not provide any further details on the possible agreement at Netinera.
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Source: www.stern.de
