The train drivers’ union has struck three times and slowed down millions of passengers. And when the GDL agreement was reached, the EVG threatened a labor dispute. Now one thing is certain: it will not come to that.
For the time being, Deutsche Bahn passengers no longer have to fear strikes. The company and the railway and transport union (EVG) have reached a collective agreement, as both sides announced on Thursday.
Three weeks after the deal with the train drivers’ union GDL, this collective bargaining round is finally over. The next round of collective bargaining with the EVG will normally begin in spring 2023.
“Everyone involved – above all our customers – can now plan safely again,” said Bahn HR Director Martin Seiler. EVG negotiator Kristian Loroch said that it had been possible to restore the operational peace at the railway.
The EVG competes in the railway company for members and influence with the smaller union of German locomotive drivers (GDL). The EVG actually agreed a collective agreement last September. Because the GDL got more out of it after three strikes this summer, it was renegotiated.
In addition, a corona premium of up to 1,100 euros has now been agreed with the EVG. That is 100 euros more than at the end of the GDL. However, in the EVG tariff, the next increase in the table fees comes a month later. On January 1, they will rise by 1.5 percent. According to the EVG, there are also improvements in allowances. The railway also makes higher payments in social funds, which are administered together with the respective trade unions.
The tariff applies to all rail companies in which the EVG has more members than the GDL. Their conclusion currently covers 16 of the 300 or so railway companies and thus around 8,000 of the 185,000 collective bargaining employees affected, according to Deutsche Bahn. For other companies it still has to be determined which union is stronger there. The EVG emphasized that anyone who compares the two degrees will hardly find any differences.
Negotiator Loroch agreed that Deutsche Bahn wanted to set clear accents for the members in 2023. “We are already preparing for a tough argument from March 1, 2023.” The GDL had agreed a tariff increase of 1.8 percent for March 1, 2023. Your contract runs until October 2023.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
