There is a threat of new strikes at the railway: According to the company, the GDL has once again collapsed collective bargaining. The main point of contention apparently remains the 35-hour week. The choice of words used by both sides in the press releases is drastic.
There is a renewed threat of strikes at Deutsche Bahn. According to the company, the collective bargaining negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers’ union GDL, which were resumed a few weeks ago, have failed. The German train drivers’ union had broken off the negotiations, the railway said. The “Bild” newspaper had previously reported on it.
“Despite far-reaching concessions from Deutsche Bahn and despite the use of two experienced moderators, the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) broke off the confidential collective bargaining negotiations with the railway early today,” writes the railway in a statement. Negotiations were originally supposed to continue until Sunday.
The tone between the two sides is extremely rough: the GDL has not moved a millimeter in the past few weeks, according to the railway. “It is unbelievable that the train drivers’ union is still standing up from the table and thus threatening further strikes for customers,” explained the railway’s human resources director, Martin Seiler.
GDL: Bahn has “pierced through” information
The GDL did not specifically confirm the termination of the negotiations, but sharply attacked the railway in a press release and accused it of not adhering to its contractual obligations. Confidentiality had been agreed until March 3 and the company had breached this agreement. Information was “targeted by DB management” to the Bild newspaper “in order to then attach it to the union website,” explained the GDL.
The union will not comment until next Monday, it says. A press conference will then take place on Monday morning.
GDL remains unyielding when it comes to core demands
This time too, the talks failed due to the union’s core demand for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers, according to the railway. “The GDL dogmatically insisted on the 35-hour week with full wage compensation until the end.” The union also wants to negotiate collective agreements for parts of the infrastructure. The railway has so far rejected both points.
Collective bargaining at the railway began at the beginning of November. After the second round of talks, Weselsky declared the negotiations had failed and initiated a strike vote. The GDL paralyzed large parts of rail traffic in Germany a total of four times with two warning strikes and two longer strikes. Long-distance, regional and freight traffic were at a standstill for days.
Bahn is now considering next steps
The GDL ended the most recent industrial dispute at the end of January early and surprisingly returned to the negotiating table. Since then, we have spoken to each other behind closed doors. Nothing was made public during this time, neither about the progress of the talks nor about the mood between the two sides. Negotiations took place in Berlin.
The negotiations were moderated by former Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière and Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein. Both also made compromise proposals regarding weekly working hours, the railway said.
“DB is now assessing the current situation and considering the next steps,” the press release said. It is currently completely unclear whether GDL and Bahn will return to the negotiating table. New strikes are considered likely. However, nothing will probably happen until the press conference on Monday, because both sides had agreed on a peace obligation up to and including Sunday.
Mario Kubina, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, March 1st, 2024 6:52 a.m