Further strikes have been averted for the time being in the collective labor agreement dispute between Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers’ union GDL. Both parties are negotiating again, the railway company announced on Saturday. At least passengers are allowed to breathe a little.
The negotiations are intensive but constructive. The company and the union are confident they will reach an agreement in the coming week. Until then, the GDL will refrain from further strikes. “Agreement has been reached on many issues,” the railway said.
No details known
According to the statement, the negotiations are taking place behind closed doors. It was agreed not to reveal the further status of the negotiations. The core of the negotiations recently was the dispute over a reduction in working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours per week, as demanded by the GDL, with the same salary.
The railway had previously indicated its willingness to reduce working hours in two steps to 36 hours by 2028, without financial losses. However, GDL boss Claus Weselsky did not accept this.
Every hour counts
The union has already concluded collective agreements with more than twenty other railway companies that stipulate the 35-hour working week. The condition is that the railway also agrees to such a deal. Otherwise, existing contracts would be adjusted accordingly. Weselsky wants to prevent that.
The GDL has already called for industrial action six times in the collective labor agreement dispute. The union recently resorted to a so-called golf strike, which it announced at much shorter notice than previous strikes. With the resumption of negotiations, the GDL has now committed to refrain from further strikes for the duration of the talks.
Source: Krone
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