Deutsche Bahn and GDL Open New Wage Talks After Years of Disruption

Deutsche Bahn and the Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer (GDL) have formally opened a new round of wage negotiations, seeking to stabilise labour relations after several years of recurrent industrial conflict on Germany’s railways.

Talks began on 8 January 2026 at Berlin Central Station. According to the railway operator, the opening session was conducted in a constructive tone. DB board member for human resources Martin Seiler said the negotiations had started "in mutual respect" and described the meeting as a solid basis for further discussions.

As is standard at the opening stage, both sides exchanged positions and agreed on a negotiation framework. A total of 14 negotiation days have been scheduled over the next two months. Until 28 February, a peace obligation applies, ruling out strikes during this phase.

GDL Signals Broad Agenda

GDL chairman Mario Reiß said the talks would cover around 40 separate issues, showing the breadth of the union’s demands. While specific points have not yet been detailed publicly, previous negotiations have centred on working hours, pay structures, rostering rules and contractual autonomy for drivers and onboard staff.

For DB, Seiler said the company is aiming for a "fair and sustainable agreement at the table," adding that the contribution of frontline staff should be recognised, particularly given the operational strain caused by staff shortages, infrastructure works and punctuality pressures.

Background: A Tense Relationship

The new talks come after a long and difficult bargaining history between DB and GDL. Over the past decade, negotiations have repeatedly escalated into nationwide strikes, disrupting passenger and freight traffic and placing political pressure on both sides.

Most recently, Germany experienced months of rolling strike action, affecting long-distance, regional and freight services. Previous rounds were marked by legal disputes over union representation, competing collective agreements with other unions, and last-minute walkouts that forced emergency timetables.

RAILTARGET has previously reported that the confrontational dynamic between DB and GDL has become one of the most structurally destabilising labour issues in European rail, with knock-on effects for cross-border freight flows, logistics reliability and passenger confidence.

Pressure to Avoid Escalation

This round of negotiations unfolds against a different backdrop. DB is under growing scrutiny over infrastructure performance, investment delivery and staffing levels, while the federal government has repeatedly urged social partners to ensure predictability in rail operations.

For GDL, the challenge lies in securing tangible improvements without triggering another cycle of escalation that could weaken public support. For DB, avoiding further disruption is critical as it seeks to stabilise operations during a period of intensive network modernisation.

With the peace obligation in place until the end of February, attention now turns to whether the two sides can translate the calm opening into progress, or whether deeper disagreements will resurface once the deadline approaches.