Can strikes be avoided?
Bahn presents new offer – strikes not before Wednesday
January 5, 2024, 2:18 p.m
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Starting next week, the GDL train drivers’ union actually wants to go on strike again. But now Deutsche Bahn is presenting a new offer in the tariff dispute. One thing is already certain: the employees will not stop working on Monday and Tuesday.
In the collective bargaining dispute with the train drivers’ union GDL, Deutsche Bahn wants to prevent impending strikes by offering more flexible working hours. “In order to find a good compromise, we want to talk together about new ways to organize working hours intelligently and in a timely manner,” explained DB human resources manager Martin Seiler. “Election models are the right way because employees can decide for themselves.” Strikes are now “completely unnecessary”.
“We didn’t actually want to talk about working hours, but now we’re doing it,” Seiler told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Accordingly, the railway wants to negotiate additional choice models for shift workers, so that they can work 35 hours a week, or even 40. Everyone can choose, “like in a cafeteria”. This is more modern than “paternalism through a 35-hour week for everyone, as the GDL wants”. Employees already have options when it comes to vacation or annual working hours.
In the current collective bargaining dispute, the GDL is arguing for a reduction in weekly working hours for employees in shift work from the current 38 to 35 hours with full wage compensation. The railway rejected negotiations about shorter working hours, citing the shortage of skilled workers. The GDL then declared the negotiations had failed.
Bahn appeals to GDL
A Christmas truce declared by the union ends on Sunday, and train drivers may go on strike for days across the country. However, these will probably not come before Wednesday, as the annual meeting of the German Civil Service Association (DBB) will take place in Cologne on Monday and Tuesday. The GDL is one of the member companies of the dbb. DBB chairman Ulrich Silberbach told the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” on Saturday that he had already agreed with GDL boss Claus Weselsky before Christmas “that there would be no strikes during the conference in Cologne.” Arrival and departure are guaranteed. “What happens after that is no longer in my hands.”
The railway now hopes that its offer will be able to avert the labor disputes entirely. “We are now coming close to meeting the GDL’s core demands,” said Seiler. The GDL must now move and “refrain from unnecessary strikes”. The railway has suggested to the GDL that negotiations be held in Berlin next Wednesday. Regarding the demand for wage compensation, Seiler told the “SZ”: “We want to talk to the GDL about what is possible.” However, it must be clear that there must be compromises in the wage increase if shorter working hours result in additional costs. Otherwise, DB is sticking to its previous offer: wage increases of around eleven percent and an inflation compensation bonus of 2,850 euros for a term of 32 months.