After the early end of the train drivers’ strike, rail operations have largely leveled off again. However, there are still restrictions, particularly in regional and S-Bahn transport.
Long-distance rail transport in Germany is largely running according to the usual schedule again after the early end of the strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL).
The strike was actually supposed to last until Monday evening. At the weekend, Bahn and GDL surprisingly announced further negotiations and an early end to the industrial dispute.
For passengers, this means at least a temporary end to the strike-related uncertainty on the rails for the next few weeks. There should be no further GDL industrial action up to and including March 3rd.
Discussions planned again
Both sides want to meet again for talks on February 5th. The GDL declared the negotiations to have failed at the end of November after the second round of talks. Since then, with two warning strikes and two strikes each, it has largely paralyzed long-distance, regional and freight transport four times.
During the upcoming negotiations, models for reducing working hours will be discussed, among other things. The railway has also agreed to talk about a fixed fee increase. Until now, the federally owned company had always spoken out in favor of percentage increases. Fixed amounts generally help lower income groups in particular and are therefore often preferred by unions to negotiate.
What is the crux of the negotiations?
The GDL is demanding, among other things, 555 euros more per month as well as an inflation compensation bonus for a term of twelve months. The payment of 1,500 euros tax-free and duty-free inflation compensation bonus in March has already been firmly agreed.
The current offer from Deutsche Bahn provides 4.8 percent more money for employees from August and a further 5 percent more from April 2025. According to this offer, from January 2026, train drivers and train attendants can then decide between a further pay increase of 2.7 percent or one hour less work per week.
The sticking point in the negotiations, however, is the union’s demand for a reduction in working hours for shift workers from the current 38 to 35 hours per week while maintaining the same wages and salaries. So far, the railway had only brought into play an optional model that envisaged a reduction in weekly working hours by one hour without any financial losses. Anyone who decides against this should receive 2.7 percent more money.
Source: Stern
