Image: Christoph Reichwein (dpa)
The German locomotive drivers’ union (GDL) does not want to begin its announced strikes in passenger transport on Monday, but rather on Wednesday night. The strike should then last until Friday evening. Deutsche Bahn wants to take legal action against the strike.
“The GDL members at Deutsche Bahn AG, Transdev and City Bahn Chemnitz are being asked to stop their work from January 10th at 2 a.m. to January 12th at 6 p.m.,” the GDL announced on Sunday evening. The work stoppage at DB Cargo, however, begins on January 9th at 6 p.m. It was said that the railway company did not use the Christmas truce to counteract industrial action with a negotiable offer. The railway presented a new offer on Friday and declared that it wanted to prevent strikes.
Also read: Christmas peace over: strike at Deutsche Bahn possible at any time
Deutsche Bahn announced on Sunday evening that an urgent application for an interim injunction would be submitted to the Frankfurt am Main labor court. “This strike is not only absolutely unnecessary, but we also consider it not legally permissible,” said Human Resources Director Martin Seiler, according to the statement. He said that just two days ago the railway presented an expanded offer in which the company took a big step towards meeting the union’s core demand for working hours. “The DB is ready to compromise. It is now time to negotiate again. The GDL leadership has overreached, they must finally come to their senses.” The railway called on the GDL to call off the strike and instead take the company’s proposed negotiation date on Wednesday. “Solutions can only be found at the negotiating table,” emphasized Seiler.
In the ongoing collective bargaining dispute, the GDL had already gotten the green light from its members for indefinite strikes before Christmas. GDL boss Claus Weselsky had announced that travelers would have to expect longer labor disputes from January 8th. However, the German Civil Service Association recently declared that there would probably not be a strike on Monday and Tuesday in view of an important meeting of the association, of which the GDL is also a member.
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