Rewritten Article:
Germany's Rail Wage Dispute: A Nationwide Warning Strike in Passenger Transport
The railway's nationwide warning strike began just before the second weekend of Advent, causing significant disruptions to Deutsche Bahn passenger services since 10 p.m. According to a spokesperson, Deutsche Bahn will maintain around 20% of its long-distance services during the strike. Passengers in Bavaria, which has already suffered much from winter disruptions, are expected to be affected the most.
Good News and Further Concerns
On a positive note, the warning strike is set to be the last one of the year, as GDL boss Claus Weselsky ruled out further industrial action until January 7. However, Weselsky also mentioned that the strikes in the new year could be "longer and more intense." The train drivers' union, GDL, has called for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 with full pay compensation, a demand that employers have so far rejected.
Chaos in Freight Traffic
The ongoing strike in freight transport has been in effect since 6 p.m. and is predicted to exacerbate the existing chaos, as hundreds of freight trains were already jammed due to heavy snowfall in Bavaria before the strike. Not only Deutsche Bahn is suffering from this industrial action, but its competitor Transdev is also affected, as the union declared both collective bargaining negotiations to have failed.
Impact on Passengers
While passenger services in the north-west of the country, where the GDL is traditionally less strongly represented, could potentially be less affected, commuters in Bavaria are likely to see significant disruptions. Thousands of travelers have already been left stranded in the past week due to winter disruptions and the ongoing strike, causing significant inconvenience.
Insights from Enrichment Data:
- The most recent collective bargaining agreement includes a 6.5% pay increase over three stages, job security until December 2027, and additional benefits for shift workers.
- Previous labor disputes, such as the 2023 strike involving the GDL, resulted in widespread service disruptions.
- Ongoing labor disputes, such as the Verdi union's warning strikes at DHL package centers continue to affect logistics operations.
