GDL strike: Deutsche Bahn expects "very busy trains" on Saturday
On Friday, DB was able to offer an emergency timetable for long-distance services, so that around 20 percent of IC and ICE trains were able to run, said Stauß. The company also drew up a replacement timetable for regional services. However, there were "significant regional differences" and in some regions no trains were able to run at all.
The German Train Drivers' Union had called for a 24-hour warning strike in freight transport from 6 p.m. on Thursday and in passenger transport from 10 p.m. nationwide. The strike was due to end on Friday evening.
Stauß called the strike "completely unnecessary". It was a "feat of strength for the employees". On the one hand, work is still ongoing to get rail operations in southern Germany back on track due to the winter weather. At the same time, the timetable change on Sunday meant a "significant expansion on many routes", which had to be "carefully planned".
The collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and the GDL officially began at the beginning of November. The sticking point is the GDL's demand for a 35-hour week in shift work - the current figure is 38 hours. Deutsche Bahn rejects negotiations on this and considers the demand to be unfeasible in view of the shortage of skilled workers.
Political scientist and trade union expert Wolfgang Schroeder called on Deutsche Bahn to be more willing to compromise. The categorical rejection had "made the strong polarization in this conflict possible in the first place", he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. The 35-hour week was "not a utopian goal".
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities, on the other hand, accused the GDL of selfishness at the expense of the country. "The interests of this small trade union are obviously more important than the functioning of the entire country," Managing Director Gerd Landsberg told Bild. The warning strike was "scheduled at far too short notice" and citizens and local authorities had practically no time to "adapt".
GDL boss Claus Weselsky defended the strike. "As sorry as I am for the customers, we have no other choice at the moment," he told the Düsseldorf newspaper Rheinische Post. The trade unionist sees the reduction in working hours as a recruitment measure. In addition, Deutsche Bahn management and HR Director Martin Seiler are not prepared to negotiate collective agreements for train dispatchers.
The GDL would like to extend its jurisdiction and also conclude collective agreements for employees in areas where the competing and much larger Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG) negotiates the agreements. Deutsche Bahn rejects this with reference to the legal situation. The GDL is demanding that "DB should not apply the Collective Bargaining Unity Act (TEG)", the company explained.
The TEG has been implemented at Deutsche Bahn since 2021. This means that only the collective agreements of one trade union apply in a company, namely the one with the most members in the company. According to information from Deutsche Bahn on the 2023 collective bargaining round, the EVG agreements were last valid in 282 of Deutsche Bahn's 300 companies and those of the GDL in 18 companies.
The train drivers want to fight even harder. Parallel to the warning strikes, a ballot of union members is being held on more frequent and longer strikes. The result is to be announced on December 19. However, there will be no further strikes over the holidays; Weselsky has announced a strike break until January 7. "But after that, the strikes will be longer and more intense," he told the BR radio station.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- German activists speak out in Dubai on suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip
- Nuclear fusion - hype or solution to energy problems?
- Budget crisis fuels debate on citizen's income - Bas warns against populism
- Despite the GDL strike, DB expects "very busy trains" in Southern Germany on Saturday, according to Achim Stauß.
- On Sunday, there will be a significant expansion on many routes due to the timetable change, which Stauß mentioned needs to be "carefully planned."
- DB offered an emergency timetable for long-distance services on Friday, as a result of the strike, allowing approximately 20 percent of IC and ICE trains to operate.
- The replacement timetable for regional services also showed "significant regional differences," with some areas having no train service at all.
- Stauß, from DB, labeled the strike as "completely unnecessary," considering the ongoing efforts to restore rail operations in southern Germany due to winter weather, as well as the timetable change.
- The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) had called for a 24-hour warning strike, which ended on Friday evening, affecting both freight and passenger transport nationwide.
- The collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and the GDL began in November, the dispute stemming from the union's demand for a 35-hour week in shift work, which DB rejects.
- The German Association of Towns and Municipalities criticized the GDL, claiming that their interests are taking priority over the country's functionality, as the "warning strike" was scheduled at short notice.
- Claus Weselsky, GDL boss, defended the strike, stating that it is the only option at the moment, as he sees it as a means to secure the reduction in working hours.
- The German Railroad Union (GDL) also wants to negotiate collective agreements for employees in areas where the much larger EVG does, but DB rejects this, referring to the legal situation.
- The GDL will announce the results of the union members' ballot on more frequent and longer strikes on December 19, promising longer and more intense strikes after the holiday season break until January 7.
Source: www.stern.de
