As of: January 23, 2024, 9:40 a.m
By: Marcel Reich, Felix Busjaeger
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There is a renewed threat of a strike by train drivers at Deutsche Bahn.
Now the company is attacking the union with clear words.
Update from January 23rd, 9:36 a.m.:
Deutsche Bahn expects the six-day strike by the train drivers' union GDL to have massive economic effects.
Such a long industrial dispute is “a strike also against the German economy,” said Bahn spokeswoman Anja Bröker on Tuesday morning in Berlin.
When it comes to freight transport, “it’s about supplying power plants and refineries.
DB Cargo will try everything to ensure this, but it will clearly have an impact on the supply chains.”
The GDL is striking Deutsche Bahn from Tuesday evening.
© Hannes P Albert/dpa
Update from January 22nd, 3:10 p.m.:
Deutsche Bahn will not try again to prevent the GDL train drivers' union's announced strike through court.
“DB will not appeal against the six-day GDL strike,” said a company spokesman on Monday.
“After legal review, there are currently no plans to obtain an interim injunction.”
DB human resources manager Martin Seiler appealed to the union's sense of responsibility and called on them to return to the negotiating table: "The order of the day is to take responsibility and finally negotiate again," he said.
“Especially in these times, a strong social partnership is more important than ever.” This “necessarily” involved compromises.
Update from January 22nd, 12:45 p.m.:
The train drivers' union GDL has accused the railway of deception and thus justified its six-day strike.
The new offer from Deutsche Bahn negotiator Martin Seiler is not a basis for negotiations, said GDL boss Claus Weselsky on Monday.
“Mr Seiler also tricks and deceives railway customers, not just his own employees.” Seiler linked the offered reduction in weekly working hours by one hour to the fact that the railway could hire enough additional employees.
In addition, the railway refuses to even negotiate a GDL collective agreement for employees in the infrastructure.
The GDL will only come to the negotiating table if there are no preconditions.
Weselsky again rejected arbitration.
Weselsky went on to say that Seiler had to ask himself whether he was still a suitable negotiator.
In the last few weeks, the GDL has concluded collective agreements for around 10,000 employees at smaller rail companies.
Update from January 22nd, 11:32 a.m.:
Despite an improved tariff offer, Deutsche Bahn is facing the longest strike in its history.
The train drivers' union GDL announced on Sunday the fourth round of strikes in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute for Wednesday morning at 2 a.m.
The strike is scheduled to last until next Monday at 6 p.m.
A strike has been called in freight transport from 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The last time a five-day strike was declared at Deutsche Bahn was in 2015.
Update from January 22nd, 10:24 a.m.:
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing reacted to the strike announcement by the train drivers' union GDL with sharp criticism.
“I have zero understanding for this form of collective bargaining,” said the FDP politician on Monday in the ZDF morning magazine.
In his opinion, the collective bargaining conflict between Deutsche Bahn and GDL is becoming increasingly destructive.
“I don’t think that Mr. Weselsky is doing himself or his union any favors with this style,” added Wissing, referring to the GDL chairman.
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First report:
Berlin – The train drivers' union GDL has called on Deutsche Bahn employees to go on strike again.
This will begin in passenger transport early Wednesday morning at 2 a.m. and last until Monday next week at 6 p.m., the union announced on Monday night.
The union members at DB Cargo, which is responsible for freight transport, have been called on strike from Tuesday at 6 p.m.
GDL strike threatens from Tuesday: DB offer rejected
It was only on Friday that Deutsche Bahn presented a new tariff offer in order to bring the GDL back to the negotiating table and avoid a new round of strikes.
“With the third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn AG has once again shown that it is undeterred in pursuing its previous course of refusal and confrontation - there is no trace of any desire to reach agreement,” said the GDL statement.
The railway defended its offer to the GDL on Monday morning.
“The DB relies on compromises, the GDL is exaggerating the conflict,” said a spokesman.
Anyone who doesn't even come to the negotiating table when a new offer is made is acting absolutely irresponsibly.
Commuters are likely to face another difficult few days with thousands of train cancellations.
New rail strike threatens: GDL initiates a new round of strikes
The collective bargaining conflict between the railways and the GDL has been going on since the beginning of November.
The GDL declared the talks to have failed after the second round of negotiations.
There have been no negotiations since November 24th.
The now announced strike at DB would be the fourth in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute.
Before the turn of the year, the GDL paralyzed large parts of passenger traffic in two warning strikes, followed in January by a three-day strike with a similar effect.
The union's actions continue to attract criticism.
DB human resources director Martin Seiler recently said that the GDL would not use strikes at DB as a last resort, but rather as a means of self-promotion.
DB offer for train drivers: GDL sees rail strike as a way out
The railway last presented employees with an offer on Friday.
This provides for 4.8 percent more money from August and a further 5 percent more from April 2025.
In addition, payment of the inflation compensation premium is planned immediately after a possible collective bargaining agreement.
According to the DB offer, the term should be 32 months.
From January 1, 2026, a reduction in working hours from 38 to 37 hours will be offered with the same salary.
According to the offer, anyone who decides against the reduction will instead receive 2.7 percent more money.
(with agencies)