GDL boss Weselsky plans the next mega-strike of the railway: "Attack on the whole country"

Claus Weselsky leads the train drivers towards the strike.

The GDL boss is known in his own ranks as "Robin Hood", but he is heavily criticized in public.

Frankfurt / Main - The German Train Drivers Union (GDL) is preparing for strikes at Deutsche Bahn.

This Tuesday (August 10th) at 11.00 a.m.

The hurdle of at least 75 percent approval for a labor dispute should not be a problem, according to GDL boss Claus Weselsky.

He even expects an agreement of over 90 percent.

This could mean that there could be another train drivers' strike after six years.

Railway threatens a strike by the train drivers: GDL boss Weselsky insulted as a "great trainer"

Weselsky is not without controversy in Germany.

According to the

Süddeutscher Zeitung

, Weselsky is regarded in its own ranks

as "Robin Hood" in the fight against rail management.

In trade union elections, he always gets 90 to 95 percent approval.

But in tabloids he has already been insulted as a “great trainer” or “demon Weselsky”.

He has learned to deal with it.

When the

Bild

newspaper printed his phone number for complaints, he had the calls forwarded to the then railway boss Rüdiger Grube, reports the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

.

+

GDL boss Claus Weselsky will announce the result of the ballot on August 10 at 11 a.m.

© Annette Riedl / dpa / picture alliance

Rail threatens a strike by the train drivers: A power struggle is raging between the unions in the group

In a strike, however, Weselsky is not just about more wages and better conditions for the GDL members.

A power struggle is raging in the rail company between the GDL and the larger rail and transport union (EVG).

For the GDL, and thus also for Weselsky, high collective wage agreements for as many professional groups and employees as possible are a question of survival and future growth opportunities.

Because the railway has to implement the unified tariff law.

In the approximately 300 companies of the company, only the collective agreement of the larger trade union is to be applied.

Usually this is the EVG.

It must therefore be the goal of the GDL to steal as many members as possible from the competition in order to become bigger.

Rail threatens a strike by the train drivers: GDL boss Weselsky takes a tough line

That is why Weselsky takes a tough line. He had again refused to return to the negotiating table without a new offer from Deutsche Bahn, as had been requested several times in the past few weeks. According to him, the GDL does not want to accept a zero round in the current year. He demands a significant corona premium and income increases of 3.2 percent for a 28-month term. 

In view of the new billions in losses during the corona pandemic and major flood damage, Deutsche Bahn, on the other hand, wants a longer-term collective agreement and later increases with the same percentage.

That is why the company expresses harsh criticism of the GDL.

A strike would be an "attack on the whole country," said Bahn personnel manager Martin Seiler according to

dpa

.

A railway spokeswoman said on Monday that strikes would hit customers and employees like a "slap in the face".

Rail threatens a strike by the train drivers: GDL boss Weselsky leaves the beginning and scope open

If the train drivers vote for a strike, it remains to be seen whether its start and scope will also be announced.

Weselsky deliberately left this open.

It is possible that by the end of the week many trains are no longer running.

This would mean the strike would fall in the middle of a time when the corona situation enables travel again.

A further deadline for an improved offer is also conceivable.

In principle, however, the GDL does not see any restrictions on the location or length of the strikes.

The passengers would be informed in good time, Weselsky had promised on Monday at the beginning of the count.

Rail threatens a strike by the train drivers: Rail travelers can do that

In the event of a strike, passengers can withdraw from planned train journeys and have the fare refunded if a delay of more than 60 minutes is expected.

If you get on the train anyway, the usual compensation rules apply: if you are 60 minutes late, 25 percent of the fare, from 120 minutes 50 percent.

(mhof / dpa)

List of rubric lists: © Annette Riedl