On the 24th of November, 2023, the German Train Engineers' Union (GDL) hit headlines with their announcement of an impending strike, as the contentious dispute over wages and working conditions within the rail industry escalated. GDL Chairperson Klaus Weselski admitted the negotiations with Deutsche Bahn had hit a stalemate.
GDL Calls for Strike Action
The latest round of talks between the GDL and Deutsche Bahn took place in Berlin on the 23rd and 24th of November. Despite these discussions, significant progress evaded the two parties. Weselski hinted that an agreement with the employers was currently unattainable.
Although Weselski did not specify a date for the strike, a strike vote among GDL members was in progress, with the results expected by the end of December. If seven-fifths of the voters approved an indefinite strike, GDL would apply pressure on Deutsche Bahn with an ongoing strike, without a specified termination date.
History of Negotiations
Negotiations between GDL and Deutsche Bahn began just over two weeks prior on the 9th of November. In the interim, GDL temporarily paralyzed a substantial portion of the country's rail traffic with a 20-hour strike, canceling approximately 80% of scheduled long-distance trips. The impact on regional trains was more severe in areas where Deutsche Bahn operated both S-Bahn and regional trains.
Working Hours Controversy
The major sticking point in the negotiations is GDL's demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week. German Railway Personnel Manager Martin Zeiler, however, deemed this request impractical and infeasible due to potential increased costs. Zeiler argued that the reduced workday would necessitate hiring more staff, which might be challenging in light of the existing shortage of qualified labor. Conversely, GDL Chairman Weselski viewed shortening the workweek as an incentive to make railway work more appealing.
Enrichment Data (Integrated for Clarity and Context)
Aside from the demand for reduced working hours, GDL sought a salary raise of €555 per month and a compensation bonus of €3,000. Deutsche Bahn countered with a proposal for an 11% salary increase over 32 months, including the required compensation bonus. Another issue in the negotiations is the future of GDL itself, as the union aims to negotiate collective agreements for infrastructure workers.
It's Arbitration Time?
Negotiations between GDL and Deutsche Bahn have been marred by regular threats of strikes and indefinite strike votes. Weselski's recent statement marked the escalation of the dispute into a potentially more severe conflict, although Deutsche Bahn has previously proposed mediation. Regardless, Weselski dismissed such offers, stating he saw no possibility for mediation.
The collective agreements negotiated by GDL apply to roughly 10,000 employees of Deutsche Bahn, making the union less representative than the larger railway workers' union, EVG.
Christmas Truce Never Looked So Good
As the current GDL chairman is renowned for his tenacious negotiating style and his willingness to organize strikes, passengers breathed a temporary sigh of relief when the union agreed to a "truce" in strikes during the Christmas season.
Related Topics
- An indefinite strike requires 75% agreement among GDL members, with no specific end date set.
