Germany's Railways Brace for Continued Disruptions from Union Strikes
Following the collapse of wage negotiations between the German Railway Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn, further warning strikes are imminent on the railways. GDL leader, Claus Weselsky, was unequivocal about this, stating, "Now that we've caused negotiations to fail, we'll ramp up pressure on the employer with warning strikes." The specifics remain undisclosed by Weselsky.
The GDL holds the power to instigate temporary warning strikes at any given moment. Currently, the union is seeking member approval for longer strikes, potentially lasting indefinitely. The ballot had started already.
As for when the next warning strike will occur, Weselsky remained tight-lipped on Friday, only promising the public advance notice. He lamented, "We regret impacting passengers due to Deutsche Bahn, and despite our efforts, find no compromises with this employer."
The question then arises – how long can a warning strike last? While predicting a precise duration is challenging, it's a fact that warning strikes must be time-limited and proportional to the demands or negotiation circumstances. Should a labor court deem the strike disproportionate, it may be deemed illegal.
As for the probable impact of the forthcoming warning strike, it largely depends on which GDL members are called for a work stoppage and the scale of participation. Previous nationwide strikes forced Deutsche Bahn to cancel 80% of long-distance services, leaving regional services severally affected.
In the case of individual occupational groups or regional employee calls for a work stoppage, the effects are harder to predict. The GDL's ability to implement regional strikes at will adds complexity to the situation.
In response to previous warning strikes, Deutsche Bahn cancelled tickets' train binding, allowing customers to reschedule their journeys or claim full refunds. A strike hotline for customer inquiries was also set up.
While not specific in the provided information, union leaders typically pay strike pay to members, albeit not covering loss of income entirely.
Meanwhile, the GDL's ballot to approve an indefinite strike is pending. Weselsky is yet to reveal whether he'll actually call for an indefinite strike, but it's more likely that he'll set a definite period for industrial action once the results are out.
The Enrichment Data reveals that Ver.di, a different union, has called for a warning strike in North Rhine-Westphalia, from February 17 to 18, 2025 – a 24-hour disruption. The affected transport companies are Bogestra, HCR, and Vestische, causing significant disruptions to local public transport services in Oberhausen, Essen, and Dortmund.
