Train passengers in Germany and Austria should remain prepared for cancellations and delays. The German train drivers’ union GDL has now announced a national strike from Thursday to Friday evening. Connections between Austria and Germany are also likely to be affected.
“We assume that large parts of our connections with Germany cannot be operated,” said an ÖBB spokesperson. Detailed information will be available by Thursday afternoon. The strike will start on Thursday from 6 p.m. in freight transport and from 10 p.m. in passenger transport. According to the association, it ends on Friday evening at 10 p.m. In addition to Deutsche Bahn, the regional train companies Transdev, AKN Eisenbahn and City-Bahn Chemnitz are also affected.
The GDL broke off negotiations with the railways at the end of November and announced a new strike, but has not yet given a specific date (see video above). At the same time, the GDL has initiated a vote for an indefinite strike, the outcome of which should be available before midnight. According to its own statement, the union does not want to strike during the Christmas period.
Reduction of working hours required
The union is calling for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers, plus an extra 555 euros per month and an inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros. So far, employers have offered eleven percent more wages with a collective labor agreement term of 32 months. Negotiations are taking place for approximately 10,000 employees.
Bahn personnel director Martin Seiler described the strike as “unnecessary” and “selfish.” It would ruin the Advent weekend for millions of people. The union’s demands cannot be met and are unrealistic. For example, there are too few employees to shorten working hours. If the requirement were to be met, 10,000 new employees would have to be hired.
Strike in November
The union had already started a 20-hour strike at Deutsche Bahn in mid-November. Only last weekend and early this week there were delays and cancellations due to heavy snowfall, especially in Bavaria, but also in Austria. In this country, ÖBB and Westbahn announced cost reimbursements.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
