Thursday, September 02, 2021
Update
Weselsky: The strike continues
Bahn takes legal action against strike
Despite an improved offer from Deutsche Bahn, the rail strike continues. This is confirmed by the chairman of the German train drivers’ union (GDL), Claus Weselsky. The railway, however, now wants to obtain an injunction.
The Deutsche Bahn takes legal action against the strike of the locomotive driver company GDL. On Thursday morning, the group filed an application for a temporary injunction in front of the labor court in Frankfurt am Main to stop the train drivers’ walk.
In the meantime, the GDL started its passenger transport strike in the morning – despite the improved services offered by Deutsche Bahn. Union boss Claus Weselsky said on ARD: “The bad news for rail customers: The strike continues. No one and, above all, no union in this world can accept this offer.”
The GDL boss accused the railway leadership of “Janus-faced”. This attitude has become evident with the new offer. The actual goal of management is to get rid of the GDL. Weselsky added that the union would “of course” continue to negotiate with Deutsche Bahn.
The strike began as announced at 2 a.m., said the train. Freight traffic has been on strike since Wednesday afternoon. Shortly before the train drivers were on strike in passenger transport, the GDL said it had submitted a new offer. “We regret that the GDL strike is now running despite the new offer from DB,” said DB spokeswoman Katja Stumpp. Since the start of the strike, a replacement timetable has now applied again. During the strike days, Deutsche Bahn wants to ensure that around a quarter of the trains on the normal timetable are offered on long-distance transport.
In regional and S-Bahn traffic, the company is aiming for an offer of around 40 percent. But there are regional differences. “The main strikes are in the east and in some metropolitan areas,” said Stumpp. Stronger restrictions are to be expected there.
At hubs like Munich or Hanover, the situation was initially calm because obviously many passengers had informed themselves about the strike. “Participation in the strike is good because the frustration is enormous,” said a GDL spokesman in Bavaria. Deutsche Bahn recommends postponing trips. All long-distance tickets booked for the time of the strike should remain valid. In the case of special offers, the train connection is canceled.
Railway comes towards locomotive drivers
The GDL announced on Monday the third and so far longest strike in the tariff dispute with the railway. According to previous information, the strike should end on Tuesday at 2 a.m. DB Personnel Director Martin Seiler appealed to the GDL on Wednesday to come back to the negotiating table and stop the “irresponsible industrial action”. “We meet the central requirements of the GDL”, he said with a view to the new tariff offer of the railway.
Specifically, the group wants to accommodate the train drivers’ union with both the corona bonus and the term of the future collective agreement. The premium should be paid in the same amount as in the public service, said the railway.
In the organizational area of the GDL, depending on the pay group, 400 or 600 euros would be distributed. For the duration, instead of 40 months, Deutsche Bahn would now offer 36 months. “At the same time, we are offering a wage increase of 3.2 percent – which is exactly what the GDL is demanding,” explained Seiler.
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