Deutsche Bahn (DB) has renewed its offer to the train drivers’ union GDL to resume collective bargaining this Monday. Offers and solutions could be submitted and discussed directly at the negotiating table, the railway announced late on Sunday afternoon. The company did not respond to GDL’s request to submit an improved offer by 6 p.m. on Sunday before the discussion began. The GDL announced on Friday that it was waiting for a written offer. If this is received by the deadline set on Sunday, we will be ready for negotiations from Monday at 1 p.m.
“We are convinced that we will only be able to reach an agreement through dialogue at the negotiating table,” said DB Human Resources Director Martin Seiler. Switching to a written exchange of offers and answers at this very advanced stage of the negotiations would not be productive. Alternatively, DB is prepared to enter into formal arbitration.
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.
The moderators had proposed a reduction in weekly working hours – a sticking point in the deadlocked negotiations – in two stages from 38 to 36 hours with full wage compensation by 2028. However, this is not sufficient for the GDL in the proposed form. In a letter dated March 8th to the railway negotiators, the GDL was also dissatisfied with the wage increase that had been offered so far and the term of the collective agreement. 30 months is too long. According to the GDL, the railway is also pushing for the elimination of previous holiday choice models, which is unacceptable.
The GDL wants to announce future strikes with significantly less advance notice than before
The DB pointed out that it had repeatedly agreed in the past few days to complete the negotiations on the basis of the overall package proposed by the moderators. This also includes a 36-hour week with full salary compensation.
In what is now the fifth labor dispute in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute, the GDL went on strike for 35 hours in passenger transport last Thursday and Friday. The strike in freight transport began on Wednesday evening and ended at five o’clock on Friday morning. However, the uncertainty for rail customers will continue if the conflict is not resolved soon. GDL boss Claus Weselsky wants to announce future strikes with significantly less advance notice than before. It is therefore questionable whether the railway will be able to put together an emergency timetable the next time there is a possible strike.