Union boss Claus Weselsky of GDL hints at longer strikes after the holiday season, threatening to bring the rail system to a standstill if negotiations with DB's Martin Seiler fail. Weselsky accused Seiler of refusing to negotiate the core demand of GDL members – a reduction in weekly working hours from 38 to 35 hours for shift workers. Meanwhile, a union-wide ballot is underway among GDL members, with Weselsky expecting a high level of approval for industrial action, potentially surpassing the required 75%.
DB personnel director Seiler's refusal to negotiate could escalate the situation, potentially leading to a power struggle or breaking the railroads' blockade as threatened by Weselsky. If Seiler continues this stance, the nationwide strikes last Friday may only be the beginning of a more frequent and prolonged disruption to rail services in the new year.
While sources do not specify the outcome of the current union member ballot or its potential impact on rail services after the holiday season, the threat of prolonged strikes remains a concern. GDL members, who last held a nationwide warning strike, appear determined to press for their core demand and may extend their industrial actions beyond the Christmas vacations.
Enrichment Data: Given the high expectations for union member approval in the ongoing ballot, it would be crucial for DB personnel director Martin Seiler to resume negotiations with GDL urgently to avoid extended rail disruptions and potential damage to both parties' reputations. This may involve revising current employment terms or finding alternative compromises to satisfy GDL's core demand for reducing weekly working hours for shift workers.
In the event that the strike extends beyond the Christmas vacations and into the new year, DB and its customers must prepare for potential service disruptions, alternative transportation arrangements, and potential financial losses. Meanwhile, GDL members would need to consider the wider societal impacts of their industrial actions and work towards finding a resolution that meets both parties' needs.
