The GDL is the smaller union within the Deutsche Bahn and sees its influence threatened by the so-called collective bargaining law.
Criticism of their behavior comes from the larger TOE.
Berlin - The railway and transport union (EVG) has criticized the harsh tone of the union of German locomotive drivers (GDL) in the wage dispute with Deutsche Bahn.
“Wage disputes, even if they are tough, are permissible.
The rhetoric and the behavior of the chairman of the GDL and some of his functionaries divide the workforce and endanger the peace of the company, ”said EVG chairman Klaus-Dieter Hommel of the German press agency.
In the past few days, hostility towards members of his own union has also increased.
"I call on the chairman of the GDL to immediately, unequivocally and publicly distance himself from these conditions," said Hommel.
Both unions have been fighting for power in the group for years.
EVG is more strongly represented in the majority of the 300 or so companies at Deutsche Bahn.
The GDL, in turn, sees its influence threatened by the so-called collective bargaining unit law.
This stipulates that in the event of competition between two unions in a company, only the collective agreement of the larger union applies.
Deutsche Bahn has been using the law in its own group since April.
About a month ago, the GDL declared collective bargaining with Deutsche Bahn to have failed and announced a strike vote that would be followed by strikes.
dpa