The train drivers’ union GDL has called for a new strike in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn (DB). As the union announced on Sunday evening, the strike in passenger transport is scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. on Tuesday and end at 2 a.m. on Wednesday. In freight transport, the work stoppages are scheduled to begin on Monday evening at 6 p.m. and also last 24 hours.
The railway had previously allowed a deadline set by the German train drivers’ union of 6 p.m. on Sunday evening to submit a new written offer to pass. This would “inevitably lead to industrial action,” GDL boss Claus Weselsky said, assigning the railway responsibility for what is now the sixth strike in this round of collective bargaining.
Shortly before the deadline expired, the railway invited the GDL again to new negotiations to resolve the deadlocked tariff strike. “We are convinced that we will only be able to reach an agreement through dialogue at the negotiating table,” explained their human resources director in Berlin. In the event of a rejection by the GDL, the company suggested formal arbitration.
The GDL has already gone on strike five times in the current collective bargaining round; the fifth strike lasting 35 hours only ended on Friday afternoon. Another round of negotiations had previously failed last week. In this, two moderators – Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther and the former Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière (both CDU) – presented a proposal.
The railway then asked the GDL to resume negotiations based on the moderator’s suggestion. However, the union rejected this and described the proposal as unacceptable. The GDL’s core demand in the collective bargaining dispute with the railway is the gradual introduction of a 35-hour week with full wage compensation.
Transparency note: This article will be continually updated.
