All wheels stand still when the farmer or the train driver wants it. Who has a chance of success? A quick check.
© Fabian Sommer
The Peasant LeaderHe promised a hot January – now he is delivering it: Joachim Rukwied, 62, CDU member, President of the German Farmers’ Association since 2012. His farmers have been causing blockades nationwide since the beginning of the week. Rukwied, a trained farmer and agricultural engineer, wants to force the traffic light government to reverse all austerity decisions. The tabloid respectfully calls him the “farmer boss.” |
The train driverHe promised Christmas peace – and kept his word: Claus Weselsky, 64, CDU member, chairman of the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union, GDL, since 2008. His railway workers have been on strike since the middle of the week. Weselsky, a trained locksmith and train driver, is demanding that the railways reduce working hours while receiving full pay. The tabloids, with little respect, call him the “railhead”. |
His declaration of war“Enough is enough, too much is too much. We will make sure there is a hot January.” |
His declaration of war“For the GDL it is unbearable how far the (…) managers of DB AG have distanced themselves from the living and working conditions of their own employees.” |
His troopsAlmost 90 percent of the approximately 300,000 agricultural businesses |
His troopsAlmost 40,000, around three quarters of all train drivers. |
Success so farAlready after the first Berlin protest in December, the federal government gave in: But no vehicle tax on agricultural machinery, the tax privilege for agricultural diesel will be phased out by 2026 – instead of immediately.
|
Success so farIn the spring of 2015, Weselsky’s train drivers went on strike for six days – it was the longest rail strike of all time. Last round of collective bargaining: 3.3 percent more wages plus 1,000 euros in Corona bonus. |
Support within your own ranksRukwied is considered a representative of the agricultural industry and large businesses, rather than small farmers – and certainly not of organic farming. |
Support within your own ranksHero among the train drivers, bogeyman for the rest of the railway workers, especially for the rival union EVG.
|
Otherwise in the headlinesRukwied also earns a lot of money from supervisory board mandates, including at Messe Berlin and the agricultural group BayWa. The ARD reported that the farmers’ president received a total of 167,000 euros in 2020. Rukwied rejected this. |
Otherwise in the headlinesWeselsky commented on the merger of two competing unions as follows: “If two sick people get into bed together and have a child, something disabled comes out right from the start.” He later apologized. |
Control over the protestThe farmer president’s influence is waning. He seems powerless against the anger in chat groups and the infiltration from the right. This was already evident last week when a northern German farmers’ mob tried to storm a ferry on which Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck was. |
Control over the protestThe union boss is also considered to be power-conscious internally. Nickname: Stalin.
|
PredictabilityThe old farmer’s rule applies: If the frost doesn’t come in January, it will show its face in March. |
Predictability“Dear passengers, due to disruptions in operations, there are unfortunately delays and train cancellations.” |
His sharpest swordTotal blockade of the government district – including a manure cannon in front of the Chancellery. |
His sharpest swordThe indefinite strike, a strike without end. So far he has shied away from it. He probably doesn’t need it at all. His means of pressure: The European Handball Championship is now underway in Germany. Major sponsor and main means of transport for the teams: Deutsche Bahn. |
opponentAgriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Chancellor Olaf Scholz. |
opponentRailway boss Richard Lutz, human resources director Martin Seiler and the rest of the top management.
|
Chances of successRukwied won’t be able to get much more out of his farmers than cosmetic improvements. The federal government has corrected itself, that’s it, there’s nothing more. |
Chances of successThe railway board has recently come under pressure due to generous bonus payments and is now ready to talk about shorter working hours. More wages are possible anyway, as the collective bargaining agreements in the public sector show. |
Danger to social cohesionProtest and blockades are the right of the farmers. Anger becomes a danger to society when it leads to violent fantasies of subversion. Gallows have no place at demos. |
Danger to social cohesionThe anger over Weselsky’s protest and the train is great, but it only shows up at the edge of the platform. Strikes are part of democracy, they do not endanger it. |
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
