The railway and transport union (EVG) wants to start arbitration talks with Deutsche Bahn in the ongoing wage dispute – but is sticking to a ballot on unlimited strikes. Warning strikes are off the table for the time being, according to trade union circles on Thursday. “After the negotiations failed, we declared that we would not oppose such a procedure – now we are keeping our word,” said negotiator Kristian Loroch on Thursday with a view to the arbitration procedure proposed by Deutsche Bahn.
Nevertheless, the union is sticking to the announced ballot. “Our voting members at DB AG would vote on the result of the arbitration and thus also on the possibility of open-ended labor disputes. If the result is not convincing, open-ended strikes will be the result,” it said. According to its own statements, the EVG does not want to carry out any further warning strikes until the start of the arbitration.
Originally, the EVG board wanted to decide on the next industrial dispute at its meeting on Thursday. On Wednesday, Deutsche Bahn then suggested that external mediation be carried out in the deadlocked conflict. The EVG had recently expressed itself openly in principle.
Months of collective bargaining between EVG and Deutsche Bahn failed last week. The union then announced a strike ballot on indefinite strikes.
