Friday 13th August 2021
Restrictions still possible
The rail strike ends, the quarrel remains
The train drivers’ union GDL ended the 48-hour strike in passenger traffic on schedule. But negotiations with Deutsche Bahn continue. It is also possible for employees to go back to work in the next week.
After two days of strike, rail passengers begin to return to normal. The strike by the train drivers’ union GDL came to an end as scheduled at 2 a.m. As a rail spokesman said, rail traffic started largely normally on Friday morning. However, since there may still be restrictions in some cases, passengers are asked to find out more in the digital information media of Deutsche Bahn before starting their journey.
This means that the regular timetable applies again. During the ramp-up on Friday, however, there could still be individual restrictions, the railway had already made clear during the strike. This can be the case, for example, when trains start operating in other locations. They are working on restoring smooth operations on all lines as quickly as possible, it said.
The union of German locomotive drivers wants to take stock of their strike at Deutsche Bahn in the morning (11 a.m.) in Berlin. The solidarity of the members was huge across all professional groups, said the union. “They all showed Deutsche Bahn the red card.”
The union had called on its members at the railway from Wednesday morning to a 48-hour strike in passenger traffic. In freight transport, the strike began on Tuesday evening. According to the union, the infrastructure was also affected. For the first time there was a strike in six interlocking companies, as well as in parts of the workshops and the administration. According to the railway, however, the greatly reduced replacement schedule could be run.
Prevent a zero round
More strikes are possible, but it won’t hit this weekend. The union wants to discuss how to proceed next week. Bahn and GDL are fighting for a wage increase of 3.2 percent in the collective bargaining round. However, it is disputed when the increase will take effect and how long the new collective agreement should apply. Company pensions are also a contentious issue.
Deutsche Bahn wants to keep the costs of the collective bargaining agreement low because it incurred high losses in the Corona crisis. In addition, the federal government, as the owner, has also demanded savings in the group in return for billions in aid.
There has been a collective agreement with the larger rail and transport union for almost a year. At the beginning of 2022, employees will receive 1.5 percent more money. Terminations for operational reasons are excluded. However, the GDL does not want to accept a zero round this year and is also demanding a corona premium of 600 euros. Union chief Claus Weselsky threatens further strikes if the railway does not submit an improved offer.
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