Out of consideration for the customers
GDL does not want to strike indefinitely
December 21, 2023, 2:39 a.m
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From January 8th, planning for rail travelers will become more difficult again; the GDL is threatening strikes in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute. GDL boss Weselsky has a consolation for those affected.
After the members of the train drivers’ union GDL agreed to indefinite strikes, GDL boss Claus Weselsky is stepping on the brakes. “We will hold strikes lasting three to a maximum of five days,” said the chairman of the train drivers’ union to the “Rheinische Post”. An indefinite strike is not acceptable in view of Deutsche Bahn’s customers and the economic consequences.
The fact remains that there will be no new strike by train drivers at Deutsche Bahn until January 7th. On Tuesday, Weselsky threatened a strike from January 8th if the railway management did not respond to the union’s demands by then. The focus must be on reducing working hours, as should the collective agreement for dispatchers and the framework collective agreement for vehicle maintenance.
In this year’s collective bargaining round, train drivers have stopped work twice at short notice, bringing rail traffic largely to a standstill. At the end of November, the union declared the talks with the state-owned company had failed. The biggest point of contention is the GDL’s demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers with full wage compensation. In addition, she demands 555 euros more per month as well as an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros.
After the strike vote, an indefinite strike would theoretically be possible. The last time there was one was in 2015. At that time, the railway workers resumed work after three days after an arbitration procedure was successful. There had previously been a six-day strike.