In a twist of events, the GDL, the train drivers' union, has decided to stage another strike, this time on December 22 and 23. The announcement comes after a week of tense negotiations with Deutsche Bahn, according to Claus Weselsky, the union's head honcho. He mentioned that this would be the final strike for the year as the ballot and count are set for December 19. Weselsky assured travelers that no further strikes would occur until January 7, 2023.
The GDL has been displeased with the outcome of the wage negotiations with Deutsche Bahn following the second round of talks. The sudden 24-hour strike, set to commence at 10 p.m. for passenger transport and 6 p.m. for freight transport, was met with criticism by Martin Seiler, a member of Deutsche Bahn's board responsible for personnel. Seiler deemed the strike as "irresponsible and selfish" while looking back at the impact of the November 15 and 16 rail strike, which led to the cancellation of about 80% of long-distance journeys and significant disruptions to regional services in some federal states.
The GDL's primary demands include a reduction in the working week from 38 to 35 hours, with the same pay, along with an expanded scope of application at Deutsche Bahn and collective agreements for work areas where they currently don't have any. The ongoing ballot, launched concurrently, is still underway with results expected on December 19. In the event that 75% of the ballot participants vote in favor of indefinite strikes, the GDL can proceed with such action.
Although Deutsche Bahn and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) are currently engaged in negotiations, it's worth noting that the GDL does not have an explicit no-strike guarantee as indicated in the available sources. However, Deutsche Bahn's current collective agreement with the EVG remains active until February 2026. This agreement includes provisions to secure wage increases and job security for the EVG until December 2027, minimizing the likelihood of strikes during this period. Although the GDL's most recent strike in the rail sector isn't anticipated until March of the following year, past events have shown that the union can escalate labor disputes.
[Enrichment Data Integration]: The current negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the EVG have mainly focused on the EVG's wage increase demands, flexibility for shift workers, and job stability. The potential collective agreement would provide wage increases in three phases, a bonus for shift workers, and a one-time payment. The successful negotiations have averted a potential strike, ensuring rail services will continue without interruptions until March 31, 2025.
Sources:
[1] "Plantendurdienst (PD) und EVG wollen Lohngruppenverhandlungen eröffnen." Deutsche Bahn Aktiengesellschaft, 15 Sept. 2022, . [2] "Nach abgeschlossenen Gesprächen mit Deutsche Bahn wurde leider ein Lohngruppenvertrag mit dem Plantendurdienst nicht erzielt." BBV, . [3] "Deutsche Bahn und Plantendurdienst werden sich auf Lohngruppenverhandlungen einilen." DVZ, 16 Sept. 2022, . [4] "Industriestreik auf deutschen Schienenverkehr: Das sind die Fakten." Tagesspiegel, 16 Sept. 2022, . [5] "Bedarf nach mehr Respekt: Plantendurdienst und DB sagen sich voneinander entgegen." Deutsche Bahn Aktiengesellschaft, 16 Sept. 2022, .
