Claus Weselsky is a man who is not afraid of strong words. It is the same on Thursday in Berlin. He calls the top management of Deutsche Bahn “the carpet floor”, which is also responsible for a “department of agitation and propaganda”. Weselsky, chairman of the GdL train drivers’ union, wants more money and better working conditions for railway employees. Specifically: A salary increase of 3.2 percent, as in the public service. In addition, a 600 euro corona bonus.
The railway says it has given 3.2 percent in prospect, but Weselsky’s demands would add up to three times as much in the concrete implementation – a reading that the GdL rejects. The fourth round of collective bargaining talks failed at the beginning of June, and since then both sides have been blaming each other for it. Weselsky says the employees are ready to strike: “The room is filled with an explosive gas mixture, we only need to hold a match in it.”
With all the verbal power, it is a surprise that the labor dispute is said to be quite bureaucratic. A ballot will be held among the members to emphasize the salary demands, says Weselsky. By August 6th, the GdL wants to ask its members for their opinion on demands and strikes and to evaluate the results by August 9th. Until then there will be no strikes. “That’s a long time to think about the carpet floor in thebahn tower,” says Weselsky. The detour is also a legal skirmish: The GdL expects that the railway will sue the legality of the industrial action. If there is a ballot before the strike, the union hopes to have a better chance of gaining approval from the court.
But it is also clear: the rest is limited in time. If there is no better offer by the beginning of August, there will soon be strikes. So if you want to go on vacation by train in July, you don’t have to worry. If you drive in August, however, you should be prepared for trouble.