- The railway sector's operational segment faces potential workforce reductions, as indicated by the EVG's leader.
The German Rail Corporation's announcement of widespread layoffs has left their employees in a state of flux, as per the Railway and Transport Union (EVG). The union's chairman voiced his concerns to the German Press Agency, stating that the communication from the board was unclear. "There shouldn't be any job losses in the operational sector, but rather an expansion."
The potential skills gap looms large over the rail sector. "This will undeniably impact the rail sector." It's imperative that cost savings do not come at the expense of the customers or safety.
German Rail finds itself in a financial crisis and needs to cut costs. At the end of July, the company's financial director, Levin Holle, announced that thousands of jobs would be eliminated, particularly in administration, over the coming years. The company aims to reduce its full-time workforce by approximately 30,000 positions within the next five years, according to Holle. "We need to operate more trains with fewer employees in the future," said the company's CEO, Richard Lutz.
However, there are reservations within the EVG. "If you want more trains on the tracks, you need more employees first," asserts Karsten Ulrich, head of the EVG's professional group for train drivers. "We can only operate as many trains as there are available personnel, not the other way around."
The controversial decision by German Rail to reduce its workforce by 30,000 positions over five years, as announced by Financial Director Levin Holle, has sparked concerns within the Railway and Transport Union (EVG). These concerns are echoed by Karsten Ulrich, head of the EVG's professional group for train drivers, who states, "The EPC's (German Rail Corporation's) plan to operate more trains with fewer employees will be challenging, as the operational sector requires a sufficient workforce to ensure safety and efficiency."
