Because of the GDL warning strike, the railways have an emergency timetable in place: in long-distance transport, every fifth train should run today; in regional transport the situation is more complicated. The association of cities accused the union of “selfishness at the expense of the country.”
The second nationwide warning strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) is massively restricting the operations of Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies. The effects are particularly noticeable when operations begin early on Friday morning. “There are massive disruptions to all long-distance and regional traffic,” the railway announced this morning.
However, the emergency timetable for DB passenger transport has apparently started successfully. “This strike was announced at extremely short notice, and yet we were still able to draw up our emergency timetable in good time,” said a railway spokeswoman. As announced, around one in five long-distance trains is on the road. The train stations were still largely empty early in the morning. “Many passengers have brought forward their journey or were able to postpone it to a later date,” it said.
Almost standstill in Bavaria
In regional transport, however, the effects vary greatly depending on the region. Particularly in Bavaria, where the railway is still dealing with the effects of the snow chaos, there are hardly any trains on the road. The railway announced that the offer will be larger in other regions.
This is the second warning strike by the GDL train drivers’ union in the current collective bargaining round at Deutsche Bahn. In passenger traffic it started at 10 p.m. yesterday evening and is expected to last until 10 p.m. this evening. Even after the strike ends, it will take some time for traffic to return to normal, as not all trains are at the locations where they are needed. The strike in freight transport started a little earlier on Thursday. The railway fears a backlog of around 300 freight trains here.
Landsberg: Strike “completely inexplicable”
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities accused the train drivers’ union GDL of selfishness at the expense of the country in view of the circumstances of the strikes. “The interests of this small union are obviously more important than the functioning of the entire country,” said managing director Gerd Landsberg to the “Bild” newspaper.
The warning strike was “scheduled at far too short notice” and citizens and municipalities had practically no time to “adjust.” In view of the planned strike vote, the strike is also “completely inexplicable,” said Landsberg. “Everyone should switch to the train, but once it works, this mini-union will paralyze it. This is damaging millions of people and also the climate.”
Weselsky undeterred
GDL boss Claus Weselsky, however, defended the new strike again. He told the “Rheinische Post”: “As sorry as I am for the customers, we currently have no other choice.” Management and human resources director Martin Seiler are not prepared to negotiate a reduction in weekly working hours or collective agreements for dispatchers. “If you don’t want to listen, you have to face the consequences,” added the GDL chairman. He had made similar statements several times in the past few days. He assumes that the railways are unwilling to negotiate.
The railway sharply criticized the GDL. A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so shortly before the timetable change is irresponsible and selfish. Human resources director Martin Seiler explained: “Instead of negotiating and facing reality, the train drivers’ union is striking for demands that cannot be met. This is absolutely unnecessary.” He had rejected the demand for a reduction in working hours to 35 hours as unachievable.