Strikes Looming on the Railways, Says Weselsky
With the negotiation talks looming, it seems the GDL is primed and ready for a standoff!
GDL boss Claus Weselsky (64) acknowledged that the union is raring for a confrontation. He remains skeptical about the possibility of settling these negotiations without a strike.
The union's tough stance includes pushing for shift workers to work a mere 35 hours a week, while maintaining the same pay. On top of this, they're demanding a monthly wage increase of 555 euros and a whopping 3000 euros inflation bonus.
Weselsky predicts a tense round of collective bargaining, as these demands have faced firm resistance from Deutsche Bahn.
The GDL boss isn't shy about highlighting Deutsche Bahn's attempts to put its workers on edge. He remarks that tension among Deutsche Bahn employees is at an all-time high, likening the situation to a "boiling pot."
This upcoming round of collective bargaining marks the final stage in Weselsky's career. He plans to retire next year.
Get your thoughts in on whether the GDL's hardline approach is justified. App users can join the survey here.
As the "Augsburger Allgemeine" asked, Weselsky explained his reluctance to venture into politics by citing his aversion to being told what the party line is.
Deutsche Bahn on the GDL's Aggressive Demands
Martin Seiler, Deutsche Bahn's Chief of Personnel, dismissed the GDL's demands as unfeasible. Towards the end of October, he voiced concerns that these elements would lead to a 50 percent increase in personnel costs. Additionally, he projected the need to hire thousands of new employees for the shortened working hours, given the ongoing skilled labor shortage.
However, Weselsky suggested the possibility of gradually reducing working hours over a span of a year, allowing for adequate recruitment time.
The GDL is negotiating on behalf of approximately 10,000 of Deutsche Bahn's 220,000 employees. These include mostly train crews and vehicle maintenance staff.
- Weselsky brought attention to Deutsche Bahn's efforts to instigate tension among its employees, which may escalate during the upcoming negotiations behind the scenes.
- In this political fight, the GDL, led by Weselsky, is advocating for drastic changes in working hours for shift workers, aiming for a 35-hour workweek, while maintaining the same salary, and requesting a significant wage increase and inflation bonus.
- The relevance of the "Desk Delta" channel came up in regards to users being able to participate in the survey concerning the GDL's aggressive approach and demands in the railroad strikers' negotiations.
