Status: 01.09.2021 5:19 a.m.
The train drivers’ union GDL is stepping up in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn: It will strike freight traffic again from the afternoon and then passenger traffic. The GDL chairman ruled out a new arbitration beforehand.
In the wage dispute with Deutsche Bahn, the third and so far longest strike of the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) begins today. Goods traffic will be on strike from 5 p.m., and passenger traffic will also be affected from Thursday morning. The strikes should end next Tuesday at 2 a.m.
Shortly before the strike began, GDL chairman Claus Weselsky rejected a new attempt at arbitration. “The railway is only trying to gain time and to irritate the public and media representatives with sham offers,” he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. At the same time, the trade unionist rejected allegations that the GDL refused to hold talks.
Weselsky rejects criticism
Weselsky also accused DB Human Resources of refusing to negotiate at the last round of negotiations on June 7, 2021. “Instead, he wanted to enter into explorations to prevent the failure of the negotiations,” said the GDL boss. “I did not allow this because our demands had been known for weeks and we reduced them to the known key figures before June 7th.”
The GDL is calling for a wage increase of 3.2 percent as well as a corona bonus of 600 euros and better working conditions. The railway offers 3.2 percent more wages, but wants to implement the levels later and demands a longer term of the collective agreement. The company has also offered negotiations for a corona bonus, but has not given a specific number. The wage war is also about the position of the GDL in the group and in competition with the larger railway and transport union (EVG). This has already come to an agreement with the railways, but the train drivers’ union considers the results to be inadequate.
“We do not chase away the EVG members”
The GDL boss also rejected the accusation that he wanted to entice members of the EVG with the strike. “It is legitimate that we are recruiting for members,” said Weselsky. “We are not chasing away EVG members, because only 25 percent of the entries since July 2020 come from the EVG. 75 percent of the new members were not previously in a union,” he said.
During the strike days, Deutsche Bahn wants to offer around a quarter of the trains on the normal schedule. In regional and S-Bahn traffic, the company is aiming for an offer of around 40 percent. There are also extended goodwill rules: Booked long-distance tickets can be used until September 17th; Alternatively, tickets can be refunded free of charge.