Deutsche Bahn and the railway and transport union (EVG) have become bogged down in the collective bargaining conflict. Are there more strikes in June?
Update from June 2, 9:55 a.m.: In the collective bargaining dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the EVG union has called on the group to return to the negotiating table. Deutsche Bahn accepted the offer for a meeting between the top negotiators on Thursday evening. “We hope that this conversation will show EVG possible compromises that will finally lead to a collective bargaining agreement,” said a spokeswoman.
The EVG said: “We definitely see possibilities to find a basis for constructive negotiations. We want to talk about that calmly.” The statement made no mention of possible warning strikes. On Wednesday, the EVG described such as inevitable in the current situation.
The Pro Bahn passenger association has asked Deutsche Bahn to set up an emergency timetable in the event of new strikes. A “minimum offer” would at least prevent travelers from “being stranded,” said the federal chairman of the association, Detlef Neuss Picture on Friday. On the other hand, the EVG is obliged to announce a warning strike in good time. Of course, it would be best if the company and the union continued their negotiations.
Collective bargaining dispute at the railways: Will there be indefinite strikes in June?
May 31 update: In the Deutsche Bahn tariff dispute, the fronts are hardening – for passengers this means new restrictions soon. “We have to assume that Deutsche Bahn AG is pursuing a strategy here that means: eat or strike,” said the negotiator of the railway and transport union (EVG), Kristian Loroch, on Wednesday in Berlin.
So there could be a threat of strikes again soon: train passengers don’t have to worry up to and including next weekend. Warning strikes are almost impossible until then. On the one hand, because the EVG only wants to vote in its bodies, such as the wage commission or the party executive. “That needs some lead time,” said collective bargaining officer Cosima Ingenschay on Wednesday.
On the other hand, next Saturday is the 25th anniversary of the ICE accident in Eschede. “It is important for our colleagues that we do not go on strike that day or on the days of arrival and departure for the commemoration on Friday and Sunday,” said EVG negotiator Kristian Loroch. However, warning strikes are conceivable from Monday.
According to Ingenschay, the next industrial action should be another warning strike. Nevertheless, the collective bargaining officer did not rule out a ballot at a later date on possible indefinite strikes. “Of course, that’s an option that’s being discussed in our organization,” she said. “But we don’t have a plan for that.”
However, the EVG does not shy away from unusually long periods of time even with warning strikes. Most recently, the walkout should have lasted 50 hours. With the mediation of the labor court in Frankfurt am Main, however, the union concluded a settlement with Deutsche Bahn on one of the sticking points and canceled the planned warning strike at short notice.
Deutsche Bahn: EVG “stubbornly insists on its initial demands”
Since then, the signs between the bargaining parties have actually been closer. The railways and the EVG negotiated for three days last week in Fulda. Both sides described the talks as constructive. The railways then submitted a new offer and gave the union up to and including Tuesday to respond.
The group made further concessions to EVG on some points, such as the term. But a core requirement – the EVG demands a basic amount for the employees of at least 650 euros more per month – was not met by Deutsche Bahn in the offer paper. The workers refused on Tuesday and called for further negotiations.
Deutsche Bahn rejected this on Wednesday: “It’s pointless at the moment because the electronic ballast doesn’t move a millimeter,” explained DB HR Director Martin Seiler on Wednesday night. The flat-rate rejection of the third, again greatly improved DB offer by the EVG is “incomprehensible”.
The EVG does not show any concessions and does not propose any solutions, but “simply stubbornly insists on its initial demands”, criticized Seiler. The railway now wants to comprehensively assess the overall situation and discuss further steps in the responsible committees, he announced. (lma/AFP/dpa)