Train drivers: Expect longer strikes from January 8

Railroad - Train drivers: Expect longer strikes from January 8

In the wage dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the train drivers' union GDL is maintaining its threat of strike action. "We should expect longer industrial action from January 8," said chairman Claus Weselsky to the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. "We will break the railroad's blockade." At the same time, Weselsky expressed his willingness to compromise on an important issue.

The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) had declared the wage negotiations to have failed almost three weeks ago. Among other things, the employers had previously rejected the demand to reduce the weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours with full pay compensation.

Weselsky told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper: "We are prepared to compromise on implementation. We could start around 2025 and gradually reduce the working week from 38 to 35 hours by 2028."

Indefinite strikes ruled out

So far, the GDL has paralyzed rail traffic in large parts with two warning strikes in this collective bargaining round. The members will now decide on further industrial action in a ballot. The votes are to be counted on December 19, as Weselsky said. The union had ruled out strikes up to and including January 7.

"There will be longer strikes in January after a successful ballot," confirmed the GDL boss. "There will be no more 24-hour strikes." On the question of indefinite strikes, Weselsky said: "We are so responsible that we will not strike forever."

Weselsky called Martin Seiler, Chief Human Resources Officer at Deutsche Bahn, an "actor". "Negotiating with such an actor is difficult."

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1. The German Railroad (Deutsche Bahn) is currently facing a prolonged strike action threat from the Union of German Locomotive Drivers (GDL).
2. The GDL had previously criticized the employers for rejecting the demand to reduce the weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours with full pay compensation.
3. Claus Weselsky, the chairman of the GDL, expressed his willingness to compromise on the implementation of reduced working hours, suggesting a gradual reduction by 2028.
4. The GDL had earlier paralyzed rail traffic with two warning strikes during this collective bargaining round, and further industrial action will be decided upon in a ballot, with votes to be counted on December 19.
5. Claus Weselsky confirmed the possibility of longer strikes in January, if the ballot is successful, and ruled out the possibility of 24-hour strikes.
6. Weselsky referred to Martin Seiler, Chief Human Resources Officer at German Railroad, as an "actor", mentioning the difficulty of negotiating with such an individual.
7. The German Railroad (Deutsche Bahn) is currently dealing with the impact of these wage dispute-related strikes on their train services, impacting traffic within Germany.

Source: www.stern.de