As of: March 27, 2024, 6:56 a.m
By: Max Schäfer, Hannes Niemeyer
Comments
Press
Split
Stop the train drivers' strike!
Deutsche Bahn and the GDL have reached an agreement.
The group reveals the first details.
Update from March 26th, 1:36 p.m.:
GDL boss Claus Weselsky celebrates the compromise with Deutsche Bahn as a “historic breakthrough” and “a success, almost across the board”.
“Against the strong and ultimately useless resistance of the DB, the GDL and its members succeeded in pushing through a reduction in working hours for shift workers and a 35-hour week without a reduction in pay for the future,” explained Weselsky.
In addition to the gradual reduction in weekly working hours to 35 hours by 2029 and the increase in monthly salaries by 420 euros and inflation compensation of 2,850 euros, the train drivers' union names a subsidy for the Germany ticket of 12.25 euros per month as part of the agreement.
In addition, the work phases are to be shortened from the current maximum of 144 hours to 120 hours from January 1, 2025.
GDL boss Claus Weselsky is pleased about the agreement with the railway.
© Carsten Koall/dpa
GDL boss Weselsky is still criticizing the group even after the agreement with the railway.
“Instead of negotiating sensibly, the company also relied on disinformation, defamation and annoyance of customers in this round with the aim of discrediting us in the eyes of the public,” explained Weselsky.
“Bringing us down is a hopeless endeavor, and this employer should have started to understand that.”
Railways enable train drivers to work shorter hours - but those who work more also earn more
Update from March 26th, 9:25 a.m.:
The compromise on weekly working hours between the railway and the train drivers' union GDL also provides for an adjustment of the salary.
The principle: Those who work more should also earn more.
One hour corresponds to 2.7 percent more wages, the railway said.
However, since the reference working hours are falling, no one should receive less.
This emerges from a statement from the railway.
The GDL wants to comment in a press conference at 11.30 a.m.
“With the option model, our colleagues have the individual freedom to choose what best suits them and their phase of life,” said Bahn Human Resources Director Martin Seiler.
“We emphasized from the start that a blunt reduction in working hours that is forced upon everyone is absolutely not up to date.” The option model gives the company the opportunity to continue to grow in the interests of customers despite the shortage of skilled workers.
Through an agreement between GDL and Deutsche Bahn, strikes should be ruled out until the end of February 2026
The train drivers should also receive more pay.
The agreement provides for an increase of 210 euros on August 1, 2024.
On April 1, 2025, the salary is expected to increase again by 210 euros, so that employees will receive a total of 420 euros more.
In addition, the collective bargaining parties provide for an inflation compensation bonus of 2,850 euros.
1,500 euros are to be paid out in March, with the remaining amount expected to follow in May.
My news
After attack in Moscow: Putin ally Lukashenko accidentally torpedoes Ukraine claim read
Baby happiness after the end of his career: Olympic ski champion becomes a father for the first time a few days after retirement
Bankruptcy of German industry giant: next traditional company goes bankrupt
Sweater, park bench, daffodils: The hidden messages in Princess Kate's video reading
Convict escapes while being treated at clinic – search continues read on
“That’s disrespectful”: Civil servants earn as little as citizens’ benefit recipients – and the traffic lights are watching
Further rail strikes are initially ruled out.
According to the railway announcement, Bahn and GDL have agreed on a term of 26 months.
This will be followed by a two-month negotiation phase with a peace obligation until February 2026.
GDL is wresting the 35-hour week from the railways - but only from 2029
Update from March 26th, 8:35 a.m.:
In the collective bargaining compromise between Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers' union GDL, the company has come a long way on the issue of a 35-hour week.
The 35-hour week should therefore be implemented by 2029, but some reduction steps will not take place automatically, as the railway announced on Tuesday.
“Politico” had previously reported on it.
“Working time corridor”, more salary: First details of the agreement between DB and GDL are clear
First report:
Berlin - After more than four months and six strikes by the GDL train drivers' union, rail travelers can breathe a sigh of relief: Deutsche Bahn and GDL have reached an agreement in their long-deadlocked collective bargaining dispute, as both sides announced on Monday evening.
They want to inform about the details of the deal in separate press conferences in Berlin on Tuesday morning.
The railway's passengers and industrial customers are no longer threatened with strikes.
Both sides had previously agreed to remain silent until collective negotiations had been concluded.
It is the end of an odyssey of negotiations marked by allegations.
The agreement was greeted with relief in politics.
“It is an important signal of safety and reliability for the millions of commuters and the expected travelers over Easter,” said the transport policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Isabel Cademartor.
“The agreement is a win for the rail system, which will face major challenges in the coming months.”
No more strikes: GDL and DB reach an agreement after a marathon collective bargaining dispute
The GDL's repeated strikes had affected millions of rail passengers, and the railway was only able to provide a basic range of trains for long-distance transport.
The already ailing German economy also suffered from the strikes, as they also affected freight transport.
Industrial customers of the railway subsidiary DB Cargo, for example from the automotive and chemical sectors, had to reschedule and business trips, such as to trade fairs, were canceled.
The employer-related Institute of the German Economy (IW) estimated the costs of a nationwide strike on the railways at up to 100 million euros in lost economic output per day.
Despite the agreement not to comment before the statements, the first details about the specific content of the agreement are already leaking out.
A particular sticking point in the conflict was the reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours.
Now a report says that an agreement has actually been reached on the gradual reduction.
Collective bargaining dispute between GDL and Deutsche Bahn settled: First details of the agreement are leaking out
The news portal
Politico
reported on Tuesday that a “working time corridor” should be set up that would allow employees to reduce their working hours annually until 2029 with full wage compensation.
At the beginning of 2026, this reduction will automatically take place to 37 hours.
Anyone who wants to work 40 hours can do so for around 2.7 percent more wages.
According to the report, reductions to 36 hours from 2027, to 35.5 hours from 2028 and to 35 hours from 2029 are planned for the following years.
However, they no longer take place automatically, but only optionally at the request of the employees.
The parties also agreed on a salary increase of 420 euros per month for 26 months retroactively to November 1, 2023, Politico reported.
However, the newly created Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, DB InfraGO, should not be included in the GDL collective agreement.
(han/dpa/AFP)