The next GDL strike is imminent – and also a strike at Lufthansa

On Tuesday, the train drivers’ union GDL wants to strike for the sixth time – the railway speaks of a “sheer unreasonable demand”. And problems are also to be expected in Lufthansa’s air traffic.

This week it will also be difficult for travelers and commuters to get from A to B. Rail customers and passengers have to deal again with emergency timetables or reduced flight schedules due to strikes – or cancel and postpone them straight away.

Especially with the train, little is likely to be possible on Tuesday. Standstill on the railways, standstill in the tariff conflict. The train drivers’ union has again called for strikes – from 2 a.m. in passenger transport. Strike number six is ​​scheduled to last 24 hours. In freight transport, the whole thing starts this evening at 6 p.m.

A “blank imposition”

This was “a sheer imposition” for millions of rail passengers and the economy, the rail company said indignantly after the GDL’s renewed call for a strike. The company particularly sharply criticized the short-term announcement of the strikes. The GDL is making good on its threat to no longer announce strikes 48 hours in advance, the railway announced on Sunday evening. The strike will once again have a massive impact on all German rail operations.

The GDL’s ultimatum to the railway had previously expired. Union leader Claus Weselsky had tied the resumption of collective bargaining to the condition that the railway presented a better offer by Sunday evening. However, the railway did not do that. She wants to continue negotiating on the basis of the moderators’ mediation proposal. The GDL then announced another strike. Weselsky had previously threatened to use so-called “wave strikes” to give the railway and passengers significantly less notice in the future in order to prepare for the industrial dispute.

Despite the short lead time, the DB is trying to offer a basic service again for long-distance, regional and S-Bahn traffic, the railway said. Longer trains with more seats should therefore be used again in long-distance transport. Due to the limited offering, the group advises reserving a seat early when traveling on long-distance trains. The aim is also to provide a basic service in regional and S-Bahn transport. The extent to which this is possible varies greatly from region to region. There will definitely be massive restrictions in regional transport.

It also said that all passengers who bought a ticket for a trip on March 12 up to and including March 10 and would like to postpone it due to the GDL strike can use their ticket at a later date. The train connection has therefore been lifted. The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination, even with a changed route. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge. In addition, as part of a special gesture of goodwill, long-distance transport passengers also have the opportunity to bring forward their journey and travel immediately. In general, the DB asked travelers to find out about their connection before starting their journey. But this has probably now become routine for many passengers.

Calls for arbitration are getting louder

However, understanding of the GDL’s uncompromising position is decreasing, and not just among annoyed rail customers. The head of the Pro Bahn passenger association, Detlef Neuß, told the Rheinische Post: “The GDL is thereby damaging the acceptance of strikes in the public service.” At the same time, Neuß called on the federal government to take action. “As the owner of DB AG, in our view politicians are too cautious.” Everything must now be done to mediate. The railway company had shown itself open to arbitration proceedings. The GDL rejected this. By calling for arbitration, the railway board is “once again” proving its “incompetence”.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) also criticized the GDL again: “Striking instead of negotiating is irresponsible. The GDL has to talk and explore compromises.” He also said that formal arbitration proceedings must be initiated urgently. “Mr. Weselsky continues to overreach.”

Formal arbitration would involve one or two people being appointed as neutral third parties to reach a collective bargaining agreement. Unlike the moderators already in place, arbitrators shape the conduct of the negotiations according to the process and content. In addition, at the end of an arbitration there is an arbitrator’s decision if the collective bargaining parties have not been able to reach an amicable agreement.

Cabin crew Lufthansa is supposed to go on strike

Anyone who wants to switch to air travel due to the deadlocked tariff conflict on the railways must also expect problems. At least at Lufthansa. The cabin union UFO has called on around 19,000 flight attendants at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline to go on strike this Tuesday and Wednesday. All departures from Frankfurt will be on strike from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday and all departures from Munich on Wednesday, as UFO announced.

The Lufthansa Group criticized the union for unnecessarily carrying out the collective bargaining dispute on the backs of the passengers. UFO is expected to hit around 100,000 passengers with this strike. Lufthansa is currently checking the effects on the flight schedule.

The union, however, criticized Lufthansa’s attitude, which continued to refuse to “appropriately respond to our demands for remuneration”. UFO boss Joachim Vázquez Bürger referred to the group’s net profit, which increased by 112 percent to 1.67 billion euros last year.