GDL calls for one-day strike - Deutsche Bahn welcomes Christmas truce until January
The freight transport strike was due to begin on Thursday at 18:00. According to the GDL, the companies Transdev, AKN Eisenbahn, City-Bahn Chemnitz and eight personnel service providers will also be on strike in addition to Deutsche Bahn. The union justifies its renewed warning strike with the fact that the employers are "stonewalling" and refusing to negotiate the core demand of a reduction in working hours in shift work to 35 hours per week.
"The companies are not only ignoring the legitimate needs of their own employees," explained GDL leader Claus Weselsky. "They are also torpedoing the urgently needed measures for successful recruitment." The employers are not prepared to give employees "the appreciation and recognition they deserve for the work they have done".
According to Weselsky, the strike that has now been called is the last for his union this year. "We will carry out this strike action on Thursday and Friday and it is the last one for this year," Weselsky told broadcaster MDR. There will be no further industrial action until January 7.
Deutsche Bahn welcomed this in principle. With this "Christmas truce", the union has "taken the path of reflection", said DB personnel director Martin Seiler on Thursday. This is good news for passengers. "And better late than never," added Seiler. "This is exactly what we have been proposing since September."
However, Deutsche Bahn sharply criticized the actual strike announcement. "A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so shortly before the timetable change is irresponsible and selfish," explained Seiler. The GDL is spoiling the second Advent weekend for millions of people and is striking "for unfulfillable demands" instead of negotiating. The company itself is "ready to negotiate at any time and in any place".
Deutsche Bahn called on its passengers to postpone trips planned for Friday if possible. It announced an emergency timetable, but this would only ensure a "very limited train service" on long-distance and local services. There will be cancellations and delays nationwide. For tickets valid on Friday, the train connection has been lifted to allow for postponements, and it is also possible to bring the journey forward to Thursday.
Criticism of the industrial action also came from the Berlin-Brandenburg business associations (UVB). The GDL's actions are "difficult to bear" and it is incomprehensible why the union no longer wants to negotiate after two rounds, explained Managing Director Alexander Schirp. The GDL is affecting hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers without need. Companies in the capital region are suffering millions in losses.
The collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and GDL officially began at the beginning of November. The sticking point remains the 35-hour week - currently it is 38 hours. Deutsche Bahn rejects negotiations on this and considers the demand to be unrealizable in view of the shortage of skilled workers. A ballot of union members is therefore currently being held on more frequent and longer strikes. The result is to be announced on December 19.
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- The train failure on Thursday was an additional concern for Transdev, as they would join the one-day strike called by GDL.
- In addition to Deutsche Bahn, one-day strikes will be observed by AKN Eisenbahn and City-Bahn Chemnitz on the specified day, following GDL's lead.
- According to Martin Seiler, DB personnel director, the GDL's decision to halt their industrial actions until January 7 is a significant step towards maintaining "Christmas peace."
- Claus Weselsky, the GDL leader, acknowledged that this would be the last strike action for his union in 2022, as they will focus on negotiations during this interim period.
- Neither City-Bahn Chemnitz nor their personnel service providers will compromise on their core demand to reduce working hours by 3 hours per week in shift work, as stated by GDL.
- Unions like GDL, including Claus Weselsky and martin seiler, argue that employer neglect and unwillingness to negotiate are fueling the ongoing industrial actions.
- On the contrary, Deutsche Bahn criticized the one-day strike as an act of irresponsibility and selfishness, citing the impact on passengers during the second Advent weekend.
- GDL's strike call affects not only the operations of Transdev and DB but also thousand-strong commuter and traveler flows throughout Chemnitz and its surroundings.
- In light of this industrial action and its subsequent consequences, the Berlin-Brandenburg business associations expressed their concerns about the potential losses incurred by companies in the capital region.
Source: www.stern.de
