In the deadlocked collective bargaining dispute with the train drivers’ union GDL, which has already seen several nationwide warning strikes, Deutsche Bahn wants to make a new attempt at negotiations. The federally owned company offered the GDL a resumption of the broken talks this Monday. The union only wants to accept the offer on the condition that the railway submits a new and improved tariff offer. To do this, she has given the group a deadline of 6 p.m. today.
The railway invited the GDL “to negotiate based on the moderators’ overall proposal”. In the invitation letter, the railway made it clear that it was not true that the company had rejected the suggestion from intermediaries to shorten weekly working hours. Rather, they agreed on February 26th to “go beyond our pain threshold and to complete the negotiations on the basis of the moderators’ overall proposal.”
The mediators had proposed a reduction in weekly working hours 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. After the GDL’s response to the latest initiative, the railway wants to examine and evaluate the next steps, according to company spokesman Achim Stauß.
In what is now the fifth industrial action in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute, the GDL went on strike for 35 hours in passenger transport last Thursday and Friday. The strike in freight transport began on Wednesday evening and ended at 5 a.m. on Friday morning. However, the uncertainty for rail customers will continue if the conflict is not resolved soon. GDL boss Claus Weselsky wants to announce future strikes with significantly less advance notice than before. It is therefore questionable whether the railway will be able to set up a basic timetable again the next time there is a possible strike.