Wednesday 11th August 2021
“First effects noticeable”
Rail strike has started
Rail travelers across Germany have to be prepared for train cancellations and delays: the Union of German Locomotive Drivers (GDL) has been on strike on passenger services since two in the morning. The S-Bahn trains only run irregularly.
Two tough days have started for rail travelers and commuters. A strike by the train drivers’ union GDL started at two o’clock and largely paralyzes the passenger traffic of Deutsche Bahn. The replacement plan has started, said a rail spokesman on Wednesday morning. “The first effects of the strike are being felt,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, the passenger trains stand still in many stations, platforms are empty. “Train is canceled” can be seen on the display boards for various travel destinations. The union has been striking the freight traffic since Tuesday evening. Thousands of passengers have to improvise substitute timetables apply. In long-distance traffic, around every fourth train should still run. There are also likely to be considerable failures in regional traffic and on the S-Bahn. The strike is due to end on Friday night.
The railway asked passengers to postpone journeys that were not absolutely necessary. Because of the corona virus, she also called for consideration on the trains and to wear FFP2 masks. The strike hits the passengers in the middle of the busy holiday season: In 11 of the 16 federal states there are school holidays. Cross-border connections and subsequent travel are also affected.
Power struggle of the trade unions
Bahn personnel director Martin Seiler described the strike as “completely inappropriate and excessive”. GDL boss Claus Weselsky referred to the unresolved collective bargaining conflict. “With this first signal, the management must realize that eating cherries is not good with us.” The passenger association Pro Bahn called for reliable information to be provided to rail customers. “Nothing is more annoying than waiting for a train during a strike that doesn’t go wrong.” The association called on the railway and the GDL to find a solution to their conflict in an arbitration.
The train drivers’ union is fighting for more money and better working conditions for its members at Deutsche Bahn. Unlike the larger railway and transport union (EVG), it does not want to accept a zero round in salaries this year. The GDL also wants to score points with the employees in the power struggle with the EVG.
Competitors of Deutsche Bahn are not on strike. They have considerable market shares in regional and freight transport. However, restrictions are also possible for them if dispatchers join the GDL strike. It is the first strike at Deutsche Bahn since December 2018, when the EVG called on its members to take part in a labor dispute. The GDL trade unionists last stopped working six years ago.
Among other things, the GDL is calling for wage increases such as those in the public sector of around 3.2 percent and a significant corona bonus in the current year. The term of the collective agreement should be 28 months. There is also a struggle for company pensions.
Due to billions in losses in the pandemic, the railway wants to distribute the increase to later stages, with a contract term of 40 months. In addition, there would be benefits for old-age provision and the exclusion of redundancies for operational reasons.
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