No strikes until January: Deutsche Bahn welcomes GDL announcement
On Wednesday evening, the German Train Drivers' Union(GDL) announced a one-day rail strike starting on Thursday evening. According to its chairman Claus Weselsky, however, this will be the last strike action this year. The first week of January is also to remain strike-free. "Better late than never," commented rail board member Seiler. "This is exactly what we have been proposing since September."
The collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and GDL officially began at the start of November. The main sticking point so far has been the train drivers' demand to reduce the working week from the current 38 hours to 35 hours with full pay compensation. In view of the shortage of skilled workers, Deutsche Bahn rejected this as unfeasible, whereupon the GDL declared the negotiations to have failed. As a result, a ballot of union members is currently being held on more frequent and longer strikes.
According to its own statements, Deutsche Bahn had proposed a "predictable Christmas truce" to the GDL, among other things. It offered to pay employees 2,000 euros of inflation compensation in December if there were no strikes from December 15 to January 7. However, the GDL initially rejected this.
Weselsky now referred to the counting of the ballot, which is scheduled for December 19. If 75 percent of those taking part in the ballot vote agree, indefinite strikes will then be possible.
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- Claus Weselsky, the chairman of the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), stated that this will be the last strike action by the GDL this year.
- The GDL announced a one-day rail strike beginning on Thursday evening, which is a union that represents German train drivers.
- The first week of January has been declared strike-free by the GDL, following a proposal they agreed with from rail board member Martin Seiler.
- Claus Weselsky referred to the ballot counting scheduled for December 19, which could enable indefinite strikes if 75% of voters agree.
- The main disagreement in the collective bargaining round between Deutsche Bahn and GDL has been the train drivers' demand for a reduced 35-hour workweek with full pay compensation.
- Martin Seiler expressed his approval for the GDL's announcement, as they had been proposing a strike-free first week of January since September.
- Deutsche Bahn proposed a "predictable Christmas truce," offering employees 2,000 euros of inflation compensation if there were no strikes from December 15 to January 7, but the GDL initially rejected this.
- According to their own statements, the GDL is currently holding a ballot of union members on more frequent and longer strikes due to the failure of the negotiations with Deutsche Bahn.
Source: www.stern.de
