Long rail strikes loom after the Christmas vacations
The recent rail strikes have had an impact. This made the announcement by the train drivers' union that they would not be stopping work over the holidays all the more welcome. From January 8, however, this will be the end.
The train drivers' union GDL has held out the prospect of new and longer rail strikes after the Christmas vacations. "We should expect longer industrial action from January 8," GDL boss Claus Weselsky told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. Although rail passengers would not have to prepare for an indefinite strike for the time being, they would have to expect longer standstills than before.
"We will strike the railroads in moderation," said Weselsky. "We don't have to strike indefinitely to bring the rail system to a standstill." The union is also "so responsible that we will not strike forever".
Weselsky accused DB personnel director Martin Seiler of not wanting to negotiate the GDL's core demand - a reduction in weekly working hours from 38 to 35 hours for shift workers. "We will break the railroads' blockade," the GDL boss told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. "If Mr. Seiler does not negotiate with us, the question of power will arise."
The train drivers last held a nationwide warning strike last Friday. A ballot of union members is currently underway to strike more frequently and for longer from January. The result is to be announced on December 19.
"I expect a high level of approval for industrial action, i.e. significantly more than the necessary 75 percent," GDL boss Weselsky told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. "So far, we have only called for 24-hour warning strikes twice."
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The train drivers' union's threat of prolonged rail strikes after the Christmas vacations is causing concern among passengers. Given the union's "blockade attitude," rail commuters may need to prepare for longer disruptions starting January 8.
Source: www.ntv.de
