Risk of strike averted: Deutsche Bahn reaches agreement with EVG

After the tariff agreement with the GDL, the Deutsche Bahn has now also come to an understanding with the EVG. For customers this means: no more strikes.

Deutsche Bahn and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) have reached a wage agreement, as both sides announced on Thursday. Three weeks after the deal with the train drivers’ union GDL, this collective bargaining round is finally over. The next round of tariffs with the EVG normally begins in spring 2023. Deutsche Bahn passengers no longer have to fear strikes for the time being.

In addition, Deutsche Bahn has now agreed a corona premium of up to 1,100 euros with EVG. That is 100 euros more than at the GDL degree. However, in the EVG tariff, the next increase in the table fees comes a month later. They rise by 1.5 percent on January 1st. According to the EVG, there are also improvements in allowances.

The tariff applies to all railway companies in which the EVG has more members than the GDL. Their conclusion currently covers 16 of the 300 or so railway companies. For other companies it still has to be determined which union is stronger there.

Hard arguments in 2023

Originally, EVG and Bahn had already agreed on a collective agreement in September 2020. In September of this year, the railway reached an agreement with the train drivers’ union GDL, which backed up its demands with several strikes. The EVG then entered into renegotiations with the Deutsche Bahn.

Anyone who now compares the two degrees will “hardly find any differences,” explained the EVG. “It was and is important to us that there is no division within the railway family.” That has been achieved. “Everyone involved, first and foremost our customers, can now plan safely again,” said Bahn Personnel Director Martin Seiler.

EVG negotiator Kristian Loroch agreed that Deutsche Bahn wanted to set clear accents for the members in 2023. “We are already preparing for a tough argument from March 1, 2023.” The GDL had agreed a tariff increase of 1.8 percent for March 1, 2023. Your contract runs until October 2023.