The most important questions and answers about the warning strike

Railroad - The most important questions and answers about the warning strike

Yet another warning strike, yet again thousands of train cancellations: the industrial action by the train drivers' union GDL will hit rail services hard on Thursday evening and Friday. Deutsche Bahn is advising its customers to avoid or postpone non-essential journeys. The Group has drawn up an emergency timetable for long-distance services, while the impact on regional services is likely to vary greatly.

Here is an overview of the most important information on what is now the fourth warning strike at Deutsche Bahn this year:

When exactly is the strike?

The official start of the warning strike in passenger transport is at 22:00 this Thursday. However, passengers should already be prepared for train cancellations in the hours beforehand. During the previous warning strikes, Deutsche Bahn tried to park the trains where they would be needed after the strike. According to the GDL, the industrial action is set to last until 10 p.m. on Friday. In freight transport, the industrial action will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Which services are affected?

Employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn operations in Berlin and Hamburg, as well as the railroad companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz and other companies have been called to strike.

Considerable disruptions are therefore to be expected in long-distance, regional and freight transport throughout Germany. As with the first GDL warning strike, Deutsche Bahn intends to maintain around 20 percent of long-distance services. However, according to the company, this will not be possible in Bavaria because the consequences of the heavy snowfall are still being dealt with there.

What effects are to be expected in the other regions?

Experience has shown that many employees are organized with the GDL, particularly in the eastern German states and in the southwest. In many places, therefore, nothing is likely to work on regional services. "In regional transport, the aim is to operate a greatly reduced service. The extent to which this is possible varies greatly from region to region," said DB.

Where can I find out about my train?

You can usually find out whether a long-distance or regional train is running or not via the Bahn app or the Bahn website. According to DB, the emergency timetable will be available there from Thursday afternoon. A strike hotline has been set up for individual information (08000 99 66 33).

What happens to my ticket?

All passengers who wish to postpone their journey planned for December 7 or 8 due to the strike can use their ticket at a later date. "The train binding is canceled. The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination, even if the route is changed," it said.

Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge. Passengers also have the option to bring forward their journey and travel on the Thursday before the strike begins as part of a special goodwill gesture. If the booked train is canceled, a full ticket refund is also possible.

Are other rail companies also affected by the warning strike?

Apart from the companies mentioned above, which are directly affected by the strike, all other rail companies can theoretically offer their services. The GDL mainly represents train drivers and train crews. Train dispatchers, who coordinate train services nationwide, have also been called out on warning strike, but are not strongly represented by the GDL. The rail network should therefore be able to operate in large parts of the country. Providers such as FlixTrain reported a higher demand for tickets on Thursday.

Why is the GDL on strike?

In the current round of collective bargaining, the union is primarily seeking a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours. The railroad company is adamantly opposed to this. GDL leader Claus Weselsky therefore declared the negotiations a failure and criticized the fact that no compromises could be found with the federally owned company.

In addition to the reduction in working hours, the union is demanding an increase of 555 euros per month and an inflation compensation bonus. Deutsche Bahn had offered eleven percent higher wages for a term of 32 months as well as the inflation compensation bonus.

Is there a threat of warning strikes before and after Christmas?

No. The GDL has now made it clear that this week's industrial action will be the last up to and including January 7, 2024.

For the time after that, however, it is completely open as to how the wage dispute will continue. The union intends to announce the result of a ballot of its members on December 19. If more than 75 percent of those taking part in the ballot vote in favor of indefinite strike action, the union is likely to call for significantly longer industrial action.

In contrast, no progress is currently in sight at the negotiating table. The fronts between the GDL and Deutsche Bahn have hardened, with no way out yet in sight. Things could therefore remain unsettled on the railways in January.