The German train drivers’ union GDL has called on Deutsche Bahn (DB) employees to strike again. In passenger transport, this will start on Wednesday morning at 2 a.m. and last until next Monday at 6 p.m., the union announced on Monday evening. The union members of DB Cargo, responsible for freight transport, have gone on strike from 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
For commuters in Germany, difficult days await again with thousands of train cancellations expected.
Train driver dissatisfied with train service
Only on Friday did Deutsche Bahn present a new fare offer to bring the GDL back to the negotiating table. This includes an option for one hour less working time for drivers and train conductors from January 1, 2026. However, this was apparently not enough for new negotiations. “With the third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn AG has once again shown that it is undeterred in continuing its previous course of refusal and confrontation – there is no trace of any desire to reach an agreement,” the GDL said -declaration.
Deutsche Bahn defended its offer to the GDL on Monday morning. “The DB relies on compromises, the GDL exaggerates the conflict,” said a spokesperson. Anyone who does not even come to the negotiating table when a new offer is made is acting absolutely irresponsibly.
Always strikes
The now announced industrial action would be the fourth in the ongoing collective labor agreement dispute. Before New Year’s Eve, the GDL paralyzed large parts of German passenger traffic with two warning strikes, followed in January by a three-day strike with a similar effect. DB personnel director Martin Seiler criticized on Friday that the GDL was not using strikes as a last resort, but rather as a means of self-promotion.
Deutsche Bahn’s offer presented on Friday provides for 4.8 percent more money for employees from August and another 5 percent more from April 2025. In addition, the payment of the inflation compensation premium is planned immediately after a possible collective labor agreement. According to DB’s offer, the term should be 32 months.
Fewer working hours for the same salary
Deutsche Bahn also offers drivers and train conductors the opportunity to reduce their working hours from 38 to 37 hours with the same salary from 1 January 2026. Under the offer, anyone who opts out of the reduction will instead receive 2.7 percent more money. In total, employees who stuck to their current working hours received 13 percent more gross money from the offer than now. The GDL demands 555 euros more per month and an inflation compensation bonus for a period of 12 months.
According to public statements, a reduction in working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours per week with full wage compensation is much more important for the union. Deutsche Bahn considers demand unmet on this scale, also because too many new staff would be needed. There is already a skilled labor shortage among machinists and other railroad professions.
The collective labor agreement negotiation dispute between Deutsche Bahn and GDL has been going on since early November. The GDL declared after the second round of negotiations that the talks had failed. There have been no negotiations since November 24. After a strike vote among GDL members, indefinite strikes are also possible.
Source: Krone
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