[Germany] 3-day union strike halts train traffic

In Germany, GDL - a union representing many of the country’s train drivers - began a nearly three-day strike early on January 10 in response to a bitter dispute with the state-owned main railway operator over working hours and pay, WOKV reports.

Train travel across Germany came to a near standstill leaving commuters and other travellers seeking alternative modes of transport such as long-distance bus or car travel or flights.

State-owned Deutsche Bahn reportedly said that only around 20 per cent of its long-distance trains were running and, in addition, many regional and commuter trains in cities including Berlin were not operating.

“The strike by the train drivers’ union GDL has had a massive impact on train services in Germany," Anja Broeker - Deutsche Bahn’s spokeswoman - said. “We regret the restrictions and hope that many people who were unable to reschedule their journey will get to their destination.”

The GDL union's strike on cargo trains began the previous evening (January 9).

As part of the ongoing wage dispute, the GDL union had called two previous warning strikes in 2023, which lasted a maximum of 24 hours in passenger transport. The current strike will continue until 6pm on January 12.

Deutsche Bahn reportedly tried to legally prevent the strike until the very end, however, on the night of January 9 a court ordered that the strike could go ahead.

In late December, members of GDL voted overwhelmingly in favour of open-ended strikes.

Together with the issue of pay raises, the union’s call for shift workers’ hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 hours per week without a pay reduction is at the centre of the dispute; a demand employers have been reluctant to meet.

GDL reportedly argues that such a move would make working for the railway more attractive and help attract new recruits. Deutsche Bahn says the demand can’t practically be met.

Volker Wissing - Germany's Transportation Minister - called on both sides to return to the negotiating table.

“A way has to be found that both sides can get along with,” the minister told German daily newspaper Bild. “That means talking to each other. I urge both sides to return to the negotiating table.”

But union head Claus Weselsky said it was now up to Deutsche Bahn to present an improved offer.

If there's no new offer until Friday (January 12), "we’ll take a break and go into the next strike,” Mr Weselsky said during an interview on public broadcaster ZDF's morning show as the train drivers’ strike began.

The train drivers' strike reportedly coincides with an unrelated week-long strike by farmers who have been blocking city streets and highway access roads in parts of Germany since January 8. They have used their tractors to create traffic jams in protest against a government plan to scrap tax breaks on diesel used in agriculture.

Source: WOKV

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In Germany, GDL - a union representing many of the country’s train drivers - began a nearly three-day strike early on January 10 in response to a bitter dispute with the state-owned main railway operator over working hours and pay, WOKV reports.

Train travel across Germany came to a near standstill leaving commuters and other travellers seeking alternative modes of transport such as long-distance bus or car travel or flights.

State-owned Deutsche Bahn reportedly said that only around 20 per cent of its long-distance trains were running and, in addition, many regional and commuter trains in cities including Berlin were not operating.

“The strike by the train drivers’ union GDL has had a massive impact on train services in Germany," Anja Broeker - Deutsche Bahn’s spokeswoman - said. “We regret the restrictions and hope that many people who were unable to reschedule their journey will get to their destination.”

The GDL union's strike on cargo trains began the previous evening (January 9).

As part of the ongoing wage dispute, the GDL union had called two previous warning strikes in 2023, which lasted a maximum of 24 hours in passenger transport. The current strike will continue until 6pm on January 12.

Deutsche Bahn reportedly tried to legally prevent the strike until the very end, however, on the night of January 9 a court ordered that the strike could go ahead.

In late December, members of GDL voted overwhelmingly in favour of open-ended strikes.

Together with the issue of pay raises, the union’s call for shift workers’ hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 hours per week without a pay reduction is at the centre of the dispute; a demand employers have been reluctant to meet.

GDL reportedly argues that such a move would make working for the railway more attractive and help attract new recruits. Deutsche Bahn says the demand can’t practically be met.

Volker Wissing - Germany's Transportation Minister - called on both sides to return to the negotiating table.

“A way has to be found that both sides can get along with,” the minister told German daily newspaper Bild. “That means talking to each other. I urge both sides to return to the negotiating table.”

But union head Claus Weselsky said it was now up to Deutsche Bahn to present an improved offer.

If there's no new offer until Friday (January 12), "we’ll take a break and go into the next strike,” Mr Weselsky said during an interview on public broadcaster ZDF's morning show as the train drivers’ strike began.

The train drivers' strike reportedly coincides with an unrelated week-long strike by farmers who have been blocking city streets and highway access roads in parts of Germany since January 8. They have used their tractors to create traffic jams in protest against a government plan to scrap tax breaks on diesel used in agriculture.

Source: WOKV

(Links and quotes via original reporting)