Sharp tone in collective bargaining round
GDL begins the strike vote – support for more strikes
November 17, 2023, 7:12 p.m
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Collective bargaining for train drivers goes into escalation mode early on. Shortly after the end of the first warning strike, the union called its members to a strike vote.
The train drivers’ union GDL wants to expand its strikes in the current collective bargaining round. To this end, it is calling on its members at several companies – including Deutsche Bahn – to vote. “We expect our members to give a clear answer to the employers’ stalling tactics,” said GDL boss Claus Weselsky. The GDL needs at least 75 percent approval from its members for longer and more frequent industrial action.
The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) was also ready to negotiate in Berlin this Friday, the union said. But Deutsche Bahn refused to negotiate, even though the GDL strike ended yesterday at 6 p.m. The Transdev Group is also using tactics and trying to avoid the issue of reducing working hours. According to GDL, there is currently no clear signal for further negotiations and there is no new offer. And the eight personnel service providers also showed no willingness to back down from their refusal stance.
In a first round, GDL and Bahn exchanged demands and offers. The biggest sticking point is the required reduction in working hours, which the railway has so far categorically rejected. Despite further scheduled talks, the GDL called on its members to go on a 20-hour warning strike before the second round. The railway then canceled the second round of talks planned for Thursday and Friday.
The GDL demands a four-day week with 35 hours with full wage compensation for shift workers. In addition, for a one-year term, it requires at least 555 euros more money, a 3,000 euro inflation bonus and higher allowances for shift work. The weekly working time is currently 38 hours.
The railway presented an offer with eleven percent more wages and an inflation bonus of up to 2,850 euros for a term of 32 months. The railway rejects the reduction in working hours demanded by the GDL as unfeasible and does not want to enter into negotiations with the union about it.