Status: 08/13/2021 4:52 a.m.
During the night, the train drivers’ union GDL ended its strike as planned. For travelers, this means the all-clear – but possibly only for a short time. Because: The federal government is putting train drivers on a longer strike.
The strike at Deutsche Bahn has ended. The strike by the train drivers’ union GDL came to an end as scheduled at 2 a.m. According to the company, it is working on restoring smooth operations on all lines as quickly as possible. However, since there may still be restrictions in some cases, passengers are asked to find out more in the digital information media of Deutsche Bahn before starting their journey.
This means that the regular timetable applies again. During the ramp-up today, however, there could still be individual restrictions, the railway had already made clear during the strike. This can be the case, for example, when trains start operating in other locations. They are working on restoring smooth operations on all lines as quickly as possible, it said.
GDL wants to take stock today
The union of German locomotive drivers wants to take stock of their strike at Deutsche Bahn in the morning (11 a.m.) in Berlin. The solidarity of the members was huge across all professional groups, said the union. “They all showed Deutsche Bahn the red card.”
Meanwhile, the federal government gives rail travelers no hope of a quick end to the labor dispute. “I’m afraid that it will be difficult to defuse it in the short term,” said railway commissioner Enak Ferlemann. The reason is that the train drivers’ union GDL is in the background for political goals. “So my guess is that there will be a longer argument.”
Ferlemann: It’s about building the railway
Ferlemann said he suspected that the GDL was formally concerned with wages, but in reality it was also about collective bargaining law and the development of the railway. The union wants the rail network to be separated from the group, he said. “These are political goals for which one cannot actually strike.” One has to argue about political issues, but political strikes are not allowed in Germany.
Ferlemann appealed to everyone to come to the negotiating table quickly. “Although I tend to think that it is difficult.”
Massive disruption in train traffic due to the strike of the train drivers’ union GDL
André Berthold, MDR, Tagesschau 8:00 p.m., August 12, 2021
GDL: Colleagues are frustrated and angry
In an initial interim review of the strike, the GDL spoke of a success. “The colleagues are frustrated and angry. They make this clear by participating in this industrial action,” said Vice-Boss Norbert Quitter. It is in the hands of the railway management whether there is a negotiable offer or whether the strike should continue.
The strike hit rail traffic in Germany on the second day yesterday. There were train cancellations and delays nationwide. The East was more affected than the West: In the West German regional networks in particular, a little more trains were able to run because there are even more civil servant train drivers who do their job without the right to strike. In addition, the GDL is better organized in the east.