Ballot - "What comes next will be tougher for customers": GDL votes for further strikes at Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn is facing the threat of strikes lasting several days next year with thousands of train cancellations. The members of the train drivers' union GDL have cleared the way for indefinite industrial action in a ballot, as GDL boss Claus Weselsky announced in Frankfurt am Main. 97 percent of the voting members were in favor of this. "Overall, our colleagues have sent a clear signal," said Weselsky on the result. 75 percent approval was required for indefinite strikes. According to Weselsky, the turnout was more than 70 percent.
Hardened fronts on the issue of working hours
The union had recently promised not to call for industrial action up to and including January 7 - after that, however, the vote gives Weselsky and his members the opportunity to strike on the railroads for days on end. "What comes next will be stronger, longer and tougher for customers," announced the union leader in comparison to the previous warning strikes.
The GDL and Deutsche Bahn have only been negotiating in the current wage dispute since the beginning of November, but have quickly become entangled. After the second round, Weselsky declared the negotiations to have failed and subsequently pushed for a ballot of GDL members.
Longest GDL strike lasted 127 hours
A central sticking point in the conflict is the reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers on full pay demanded by the GDL. The union wants a reduction from 38 to 35 hours. Deutsche Bahn considers this to be unachievable, partly due to the shortage of skilled workers. The union is also demanding, among other things, an increase of 555 euros per month as well as a tax and duty-free inflation compensation bonus. Among other things, Deutsche Bahn has already held out the prospect of an eleven percent increase - albeit for a period of 32 months.
Following a ballot, strikes no longer have to be limited in time. "We are so responsible that we will not strike forever," said Weselsky recently. However, further 24-hour strikes will not be enough.
In previous collective bargaining rounds, strikes lasting several days were not uncommon. The longest GDL strike at Deutsche Bahn to date took place in May 2015 with 127 hours (5 days plus 7 hours) in passenger transport and 138 strike hours (5 days plus 18 hours) in freight transport. At that time, however, it was already the eighth strike since the start of the wage dispute. In 2021, the GDL struck for around five days.
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Source: www.stern.de
