The 20-hour warning strike by the train drivers’ union GDL is over. Since early morning, rail traffic has been running almost without restrictions again. But the collective bargaining dispute is not over yet – further strikes are possible.
After the 20-hour warning strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL), rail traffic in Germany has largely been running smoothly again since the early hours of the morning. “The long-distance and regional trains have been running according to the regular timetable almost everywhere since operations began early in the morning,” the railway announced on Friday morning.
She is expecting a big crowd today. It was a particularly high demand day anyway, and there were passengers who had postponed their journey because of the strike, said railway spokesman Achim Stauß.
The warning strike ended on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Nevertheless, it took a few hours until rail operations were fully operational again. Train cancellations and delays were also reported in the evening and on Friday night.
In freight transport, however, the effects of the labor dispute are likely to be felt for a little longer. The railway had already announced before the end of the warning strike that it could take several days until the traffic jam of hundreds of freight trains due to the industrial dispute was cleared.
Train wants on Trial date hold onto
The railway drew a positive conclusion after the warning strike: the emergency timetable worked reliably. In some cases even more trips could have been offered in regional and S-Bahn transport than originally planned. Many passengers had prepared for the industrial action despite the short notice, said railway spokesman Stauß.
He appealed to the GDL to “return to the negotiating table”. The collective bargaining partners must “find solutions at the negotiating table and not through strikes”.
Deutsche Bahn apparently wants to stick to the agreed next negotiation date next week – provided that the GDL does not call for industrial action again at the same time. The agreed meeting date next Thursday and Friday will “of course” take place, railway circles said on Thursday evening.
Only 20 percent of long-distance trains are on the move
The GDL’s warning strike began on Wednesday evening and lasted until early Thursday evening. It led to massive disruptions in rail traffic. After the announcement on Tuesday, the railway had drawn up an emergency timetable at short notice. In long-distance transport, only one in five ICE and IC trains was on the road during the industrial dispute.
Since dispatchers who coordinate nationwide rail traffic also took part in the strike, there were also restrictions on other transport companies that were not directly on strike. The emergency timetable should initially continue to apply even after the strike ends. Traffic will not run perfectly again, said company spokesman Stauß. The effects were most far-reaching in freight transport.
GDL sees responsibility on the railway
It remains to be seen how the collective bargaining dispute will continue in the next few days. The railway canceled the second round of negotiations scheduled for this Thursday and Friday after the GDL announced a warning strike. The next meeting is planned for next week. It was initially unclear whether both sides would stick to it.
The head of the train drivers’ union GDL, Claus Weselsky, criticized the joint move Lunch magazine from ARD and ZDF the termination of today’s negotiations by Deutsche Bahn: “In our view, a human resources director who refuses to work is intolerable.”
At the same time, Weselsky defended the industrial action. Responsibility for the strike lies with Deutsche Bahn and human resources director Martin Seiler, who did not want to negotiate a reduction in weekly working hours or collective agreements for dispatchers, the GDL boss explained Lunch magazine.
Strike vote on indefinite strikes?
However, passengers may face further disruptions. Weselsky concluded this in Lunch magazine not out and referred to Deutsche Bahn: “We’ll see whether Mr. Seiler is still on strike. Or whether he will finally go to the negotiating table and look for solutions with us – on all points of demand.”
After the first warning strike, the main question in the room is a possible strike vote among union members on indefinite strikes, which Weselsky had repeatedly brought into play before the collective bargaining dispute began last week. “We have to decide that now,” said the union leader to the dpa news agency. “We are waiting today to see whether the employer side will continue to refuse.”
Railway calls warning strike irresponsible
The railway once again called the warning strike irresponsible. “This is an unreasonable expectation for our passengers,” said company spokesman Stauß. “We have to find solutions at the negotiating table, not through strikes.”
The GDL demands a four-day week with 35 hours with full wage compensation for shift workers. In addition, over a one-year term, it demands at least 555 euros more money, a 3,000 euros inflation bonus and higher allowances for shift work. The railway rejects this as impossible. So far it offers an eleven percent wage increase over a term of 32 months and the inflation compensation premium required by the GDL.