- The "Saxon Heater" as mentioned by GDL Chief Executive Weselsky
The head of the German train drivers' union GDL, Thomas Schmidt, wasn't known for holding back his opinions. His heated exchanges during salary negotiations with Deutsche Bahn have become infamous, often becoming quite personal. It's anticipated that his chosen successor, Mario Müller, will be elected as the new GDL leader on Wednesday, while Schmidt retires.
Certain of Schmidt's remarks will be etched in memory, such as his reference to "suit-wearing incompetents with seven-figure salaries" who reside in the Bahn tower, clueless about managing a railway. Here's a selection:
"Well-dressed failures with million-euro paychecks are holed up in the Bahn tower, partying it up and have no idea how to run a railway." - Schmidt at a GDL rally in Saxony in November 2023, referring to the Bahn board. "They're a bunch of morons." - Schmidt at a GDL rally in Saxony in November 2023, referring to the Bahn board. "With this judgment, it's evident that the DB board's campaign against GDL has failed. DB ought to cease humiliating itself in court, squandering taxpayer funds, and alienating customers." - Schmidt in a press release on March 12, 2024, following the confirmation of the legality of GDL strikes by two courts. "I erred in my statement." - Schmidt to the 'Süddeutsche Zeitung' in March 2024, after misreporting the status of wage negotiations with Deutsche Bahn. "He's telling lies through his teeth." - Schmidt during the 2015 Bahn wage conflict, referring to the then-HR manager of Deutsche Bahn, Ulrich Weber. "What he's doing with the public and with us is deliberate lies." - Schmidt during the 2024 Bahn wage conflict, referring to the current HR manager of Deutsche Bahn, Martin Seiler. "The arrogance of power in the Bahn tower - they're burning hundreds of millions in taxpayer money, our money, for what?" - Schmidt in January 2024, announcing another round of strikes. "Anyone who suggests that wage agreements for tens of thousands of railway workers are merely PR stunts is clearly off their rocker." - Schmidt in January 2024, announcing another round of strikes. "Mr. Seiler should consider whether he's capable of leading these negotiations." - Schmidt in January 2024, announcing another round of strikes. "And regarding internal criticism, I'll just say: I have a unanimous decision from the executive board and the wage committee. And they weren't under the influence." - Schmidt on the ARD "Tagesthemen" on November 3, 2014, responding to accusations that he was more interested in his own power than the interests of the workforce. "I've been tagged as a 'firestarter from Saxony'." - Schmidt in an interview with web.de in February 2024.
"In describing the Bahn board, Schmidt once utilized the quote, 'Well-dressed failures with million-euro paychecks are holed up in the Bahn tower,' highlighting his criticism."
"During a press conference, Schmidt quoted a court judgment, saying, 'With this judgment, it's evident that the DB board's campaign against GDL has failed,' expressing his satisfaction with the court's decision."
