Per lane for arbitration
There is a threat of a new rail strike starting next week
March 1, 2024, 4:32 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
Rail traffic will still be running on the first weekend in March, then there will be a risk of long strikes again. After the GDL broke off negotiations prematurely, the Pro Bahn passenger association is demanding arbitration. Transport Minister Wissing refuses to intervene in the tariff dispute.
Deutsche Bahn passengers can rest assured for another weekend: up to and including Sunday, a self-imposed peace obligation by the train drivers’ union GDL applies in the deadlocked collective bargaining dispute. After the premature failure of four weeks of negotiations behind closed doors on Thursday, the GDL announced that it would stick to this agreement. But from next week there is a risk of long labor disputes again and thus far-reaching disruptions to long-distance, regional and freight transport.
The Pro Bahn passenger association criticized the failure of the talks. “The load limit for passengers has been reached,” said association boss Detlef Neuß. “We are calling for mediation. An agreement is urgently needed.” The tariff conflict that has been going on for months is unreasonable for passengers and can no longer be negotiated. “The passengers are not collective bargaining partners, but they suffer the most from the conflict.” According to the railway, two arbitrators have already been sitting at the negotiating table in the past few weeks. The railway had called in the former Federal Minister of the Interior, Thomas de Maizière. Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Daniel Günther mediated on behalf of the GDL. But even the experienced mediators were unable to broker a compromise.
The GDL could give a first indication of its plans on Monday. In a press conference, union boss Claus Weselsky wants to inform about the previous discussions and discuss how to proceed. There is no reason for the GDL not to stick to the appointments until then, she said. This means that labor disputes are ruled out, at least on weekends.
Wissing rejects political intervention
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing called on both sides to reach an agreement. “I am of the opinion that everyone should now responsibly ensure that a solution is found,” the FDP politician told “Focus”. He refused to intervene in the conflict as a legislator. “It is not our responsibility to accompany collective bargaining or to threaten to change the law.” Collective bargaining autonomy is a valuable asset. “But that doesn’t mean that everyone can do whatever they want.”
The collective bargaining dispute is on the spot. At the end of November, Weselsky declared the first phase of negotiations to have failed. There were no talks for weeks, but there was a strike vote among the GDL members and two strikes in January. At the beginning of February, both sides met again for talks. Intensive negotiations took place for around four weeks. Nothing was made public. Both sides had agreed to secrecy until March 3rd.
The crux of the matter is working hours
This silence broke prematurely on Thursday. Despite extensive concessions and despite the use of external moderators, the GDL canceled the talks early on, the company said. “We were prepared to take steps to reduce working hours that went far beyond our last offer,” said Human Resources Director Martin Seiler. The GDL did not deny this, but accused the railway of not sticking to the agreements regarding external communication. “This information was deliberately leaked by DB management in order to then pin it on the union side,” the union said.
According to the railway, the negotiations failed due to the union’s core demand for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours without financial losses. The railway rejects this, but in the previous weeks had suggested solutions within the framework of existing working time choice models.