As of: March 10, 2024, 8:44 p.m
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The train drivers' union wants to strike again next week.
© Oliver Berg/dpa
The next rail strike is coming.
The wage dispute between the train drivers and Deutsche Bahn is stalling.
The GDL had demanded an improved offer for the return to the negotiating table.
Berlin - The German Locomotive Drivers' Union has called for the next warning strike in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn.
The union announced that there will be further extensive restrictions on long-distance, regional and freight transport for 24 hours from 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) had previously renewed its offer to the train drivers' union GDL to resume collective bargaining.
Offers and solutions could be submitted and discussed directly at the negotiating table, the railway said.
The company did not respond to GDL's request to present an improved offer by 6 p.m. before the start of the discussion.
“We are convinced that we will only be able to reach an agreement through dialogue at the negotiating table,” said DB Human Resources Director Martin Seiler, according to the statement.
Switching to a written exchange of offers and answers at this very advanced stage of the negotiations would not be productive.
Alternatively, DB is also prepared to enter into formal arbitration.
Formal arbitration would involve one or two people being appointed as neutral third parties to reach a collective bargaining agreement.
Unlike the moderators already in place, arbitrators shape the conduct of the negotiations according to the process and content.
In addition, at the end of an arbitration there is an arbitrator's decision if the collective bargaining parties have not been able to reach an amicable agreement.
The GDL's current offer is not sufficient
The moderators had proposed a reduction in weekly working hours - a sticking point in the deadlocked negotiations - in two stages from 38 to 36 hours with full wage compensation by 2028.
However, this is not sufficient for the GDL in the proposed form.
In a letter dated March 8th to the railway negotiators, the GDL was also dissatisfied with the wage increase that had been offered so far and the term of the collective agreement.
30 months is too long.
According to the GDL, the railway is also pushing for the elimination of previous holiday choice models, which is unacceptable.
dpa