The train driver collective bargaining dispute appears to be hopeless. Another industrial dispute disrupts travel plans. For thousands it’s time to improvise again.
Travelers and commuters have to prepare for what is now the fourth warning strike on the railway this year: The train drivers’ union GDL has called on its members to stop work. The strike at Deutsche Bahn (DB) in passenger transport is scheduled to begin this Thursday evening at 10 p.m. and end this Friday evening at 10 p.m. Impairments are expected before the warning strike begins, as well as afterwards. During the strike, an emergency timetable with greatly reduced services will apply.
The employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn operations in Berlin and Hamburg as well as the railway companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz as well as other companies, have been called on a warning strike. According to the announcement, the strike in freight transport is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening.
The strike on a busy Friday thwarted the plans of thousands of passengers. You can postpone your trip planned for this Thursday or Friday and use your ticket at another time. The train connection has been lifted, the railway announced. Reservations can be canceled free of charge.
GDL wants to increase the pressure
The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) wants to use the campaign to increase the pressure in the current collective bargaining round. Among other things, she wants to emphasize the demand for a reduction in working hours for shift workers. “The employers are stonewalling everywhere and are not prepared to give the employees the appreciation and recognition they deserve for the work they have done,” criticized the union.
At least on one point, passengers can breathe a sigh of relief: there should be no further warning strikes until January 7th, and the busy holidays will be spared from labor disputes. “We will now carry out this strike action on Thursday and Friday, and it is the last one for this year,” said GDL boss Weselsky on MDR-aktuell. “The ballot and counting will then take place on December 19th. And there will be no more industrial action, not even in the first week of January.”
Dissatisfaction among passenger representatives
The timing of the warning strike announcement on Wednesday evening was met with displeasure by the Pro Bahn passenger association. “What we criticize is the short-term nature. We would like it to be announced two days in advance when the strike will take place so that passengers can prepare for it,” said Federal Chairman Detlef Neuß.
Protests by the strikers are planned in Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich. GDL members also want to campaign for their demands in Postdam, at the venue of the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations for the federal states’ public services. The same applies to the railways as to the public service, said Ulrich Silberbach, chairman of the German Civil Service Association. “If you want to attract and retain qualified specialists, you have to offer attractive and competitive working conditions.”
Railway: GDL demands cannot be met
Deutsche Bahn criticized the GDL for ruining the second weekend of Advent for millions of uninvolved people. A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so shortly before the timetable change was irresponsible and selfish, rail personnel director Martin Seiler criticized. “Instead of negotiating and facing reality, the train drivers’ union is striking for demands that cannot be met. This is absolutely unnecessary.”
The GDL last called for a warning strike at the railway on November 15th and 16th. In March and April, the larger railway and transport union (EVG) called for one-day warning strikes. In the unusually tough collective bargaining round for train drivers, a strike vote on indefinite strikes is already underway.
Source: Stern
