Deutsche Bahn (DB) and train drivers’ union GDL have agreed on shorter working hours (see video above). Shift employees will work between 35 and 40 hours per week until 2029. Those who work more also earn more, says HR director Martin Seiler.
The shift worker has a choice between 35 and 40 hours per week. In addition, it was decided in two steps to give a wage increase of 420 euros: an extra 210 euros per month on August 1, 2024 and another 210 euros on April 1, 2025. An inflation compensation bonus of 2,850 euros will also be paid from March. .
Contract runs until December 31, 2025
The new collective labor agreement has a term of 26 months until December 31, 2025, followed by a two-month negotiation phase. This means that no more strikes are possible until the end of February 2026. “The dispute was tough, but we were now able to agree on an intelligent compromise,” said Martin Seiler of Deutsche Bahn.
Before the agreement, there were six labor disputes, a moderation failure and a court dispute. The union had struck repeatedly in recent months and largely paralyzed train traffic. The industry was also affected by the cancellation of freight trains.
The main bottleneck was the reduction in weekly working hours for staff. The GDL had called for a 35-hour working week with the same pay.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
