BERLIN: The German train drivers’ union, GDL, has announced a 24-hour strike scheduled for this week after failed negotiations with the national operator.
The strike will impact state-owned Deutsche Bahn’s passenger services from Thursday 10 p.m. to Friday 10 p.m., with freight trains affected starting Thursday at 6 p.m. Previous strikes by GDL have led to reduced schedules, and while some regional services by private operators remain unaffected, the dispute highlights challenges over pay and working hours.
German pay negotiations often feature limited “warning strikes,” but GDL might escalate their actions soon. On Nov. 24, GDL chairman Claus Weselsky announced the failure of negotiations with Deutsche Bahn after just two rounds of talks.
The union has initiated a member ballot regarding extensive strikes and intends to disclose the outcome on Dec. 19. The primary contention revolves around the union’s insistence on reducing shift workers’ hours from 38 to 35 per week without reducing pay—an aspect employers have been reluctant to entertain.
GDL aims for a 555 euros ($600) monthly raise for employees along with a one-time payment of up to 3,000 euros to counter inflation. Deutsche Bahn claims to have proposed an 11% raise.
An earlier dispute between the railway operator and the larger, traditionally less confrontational EVG union was resolved this year following an agreement accepted by both sides based on arbitrators’ recommendations.
