In the wage dispute of Deutsche Bahn, the fronts are hardening - for passengers, this could soon mean warning strikes again. (Symbolic image) © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
Deutsche Bahn and the railway and transport union (EVG) have become bogged down in the wage dispute. Is there a threat of further strikes in June?
Update from June 2, 9:55 a.m.: In the wage dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the EVG union has called on the company to return to the negotiating table. "We hope that this conversation will show the EVG possible compromises on its part, which will finally lead to a collective agreement," said a spokeswoman.
The EDC said: "We do see opportunities to find a basis for constructive negotiations. We want to talk about that in peace." There was no mention of possible warning strikes in the announcement. On Wednesday, the EDC had described such as inevitable in the current situation.
The passenger association Pro Bahn has called on Deutsche Bahn to set up an emergency timetable in the event of new strikes. A "minimum offer" would at least prevent travelers from being "stranded," said the national chairman of the association, Detlef Neuß, the Bild am Freitag. On the other hand, the EDC is obliged to announce a warning strike in good time. Of course, it would be best if the company and the union continued their negotiations.
Collective bargaining dispute at the railways: Will there be indefinite strikes in June?
May 31 update: In the wage dispute of Deutsche Bahn, the fronts are hardening - for passengers, this means new restrictions soon. "We have to assume that Deutsche Bahn AG is pursuing a strategy that means for us: eat or strike," said the chief negotiator of the railway and transport union (EVG), Kristian Loroch, on Wednesday in Berlin.
So there could soon be a threat of strikes again: Up to and including next weekend, rail passengers do not have to worry about it for the time being. Warning strikes are almost impossible until then. On the one hand, because the EVG first wants to coordinate in its committees, such as the collective bargaining commission or the party executive. "That takes some lead time," said collective bargaining board member Cosima Ingenschay on Wednesday.
On the other hand, next Saturday is the 25th anniversary of the ICE accident in Eschede. "It is important for our colleagues that we will not go on strike on this day ourselves, nor on the arrival and departure days for the commemoration ceremony on Friday and Sunday," said EDC negotiator Kristian Loroch. From Monday, however, warning strikes are conceivable.
According to Ingenschay, the next industrial action is likely to be another warning strike. Nevertheless, the collective bargaining board did not rule out a later ballot on possible indefinite strikes. "Of course, this is an option that is being discussed in our organization," she said. "But we don't have a plan for that."
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However, even in the case of warning strikes, the EDC does not shy away from unusually long periods of time. Most recently, the strike should have lasted 50 hours. With the mediation of the labor court in Frankfurt am Main, however, the union reached a settlement with Deutsche Bahn on one of the sticking points and canceled the planned warning strike at short notice.
Deutsche Bahn: EVG "stubbornly insists on its initial demands"
Since then, the signs between the collective bargaining parties have actually pointed to rapprochement. For three days, the railway and the EVG negotiated last week in Fulda. Both sides described the talks as constructive. Subsequently, the railway submitted a new offer and gave the union up to and including Tuesday time for a reaction.
In doing so, the Group continued to accommodate EVG in some respects, such as the term. However, a core demand – the EVG demands a basic amount for employees of at least 650 euros more per month – did not meet the railway in the offer paper. The workers refused on Tuesday and demanded further negotiations.
The railway gave a rejection on Wednesday: "This is pointless at the moment, because the EVG does not move a millimeter," said DB personnel board member Martin Seiler on Wednesday night. The blanket rejection of the third, once again greatly improved DB offer by the EVG was "incomprehensible".
The EDC does not show any concessions and does not propose solutions, but "simply stubbornly insists on its initial demands," Seiler criticized. The railway now wants to comprehensively assess the overall situation and discuss further steps in the responsible committees, he announced.
