Title: GDL Dares DB Group to Act on Wage Dispute to Prevent January Struggles
In the ongoing salary dispute with Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) implies that the company has the power to prevent strikes happening in January. The GDL's stance on whether and how long strikes might last next year depends on the overall situation, as GDL Chairman Claus Weselsky explained on RBB on Wednesday morning. "We won't need to strike if DB agrees to reduce weekly operating hours," he said. "If they don't, it shows customers that they don't value their discomfort."
On Tuesday afternoon, the union revealed the results of a vote for extended industrial action to push through its demands. An astounding 97% approved, which means that open-ended strikes could be on the horizon, set to start from January 8. The GDL had initially promised a Christmas truce beforehand.
The conflict centers around the GDL's request for shift workers' weekly working hours to reduce from the current 38 to 35 hours with adequate compensation. Since DB has refused to discuss this, the GDL deems the talks a failure. Weselsky told RBB that DB's "stubborn refusal" made reaching a compromise impossible.
Apart from this, the GDL is also demanding a minimum wage increase of 555 euros and a one-year inflation bonus worth 3000 euros. DB put forward an offer that guarantees an eleven percent wage increase and an inflation bonus of up to 2850 euros over a 32-month term.
Extra Insights:
While the focused disputes do not directly involve the GDL or its request for reduced weekly working hours, some points from the recent collective bargaining agreement between the German Railway and Transport Union (EVG) and Deutsche Bahn (DB) could indirectly relate to the matter:
- Collective Bargaining Agreement: EVG and DB have achieved a collective bargaining agreement, which features a 6.5% wage increase for employees, with a special 2.6% increase for shift workers commencing in December 2026. This increase can be converted into additional time off from 2027[1].
- Job Security and Working Time Model: The agreement reinforces job security through December 31, 2027, and introduces a new working time model intended to optimize staffing levels and enhance operational efficiency. However, this model does not address the reduction of weekly working hours for shift workers[1].
- Previous Disputes: The agreement was established to prevent strikes, which posed a concern due to previous labor disputes, such as one with the GDL in 2023, which brought about massive service disruptions[1][3].
- Restructuring Concerns: The agreement includes a special restructuring clause for DB Cargo, which allows for deviations from standard collective agreements to uphold the restructuring plan of the ailing freight division. This restructure has raised doubts among some employees regarding potential inconsistencies in working conditions[1].
In summary, despite the recent agreement between EVG and DB covering wage increases and job security, it does not explicitly focus on reducing weekly working hours for shift workers. The matter of reducing working hours is not explicitly mentioned in our available sources.
