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DB's Wage Negotiations Enter Mediation Phase, Strikes Possible

DB's Wage Negotiations Enter Mediation Phase, Strikes Possible
photo: RAILTARGET Archive/DB's Wage Negotiations Enter Mediation Phase, Strikes Possible
11 / 07 / 2023

Deutsche Bahn and the unions have agreed to negotiate wage increases with the help of mediators from 17 to 31 July. Should they fail to reach an agreement, it could be followed by a strike.

The mediators will be Heidi Pfarr, a lawyer and politician from the Social Democrats, and Thomas de Maizière, a former interior minister from the conservative CDU.

The dispute over pay rises has been going on since February. The unions entered the negotiations demanding an increase of at least 650 euros a month in the monthly income of employees, or 12 % for the higher salary brackets. The management refused. The last public offer promised wage increases of 12 % in the lower salary groups, 10 % in the middle and eight % in the higher salary groups. In addition, they proposed a one-off anti-inflationary bonus of EUR 2 850, which would be tax-free for employees thanks to the government's compensation package.

A significant disagreement arises over the term of the collective agreement. While the unions are advocating for a 12-month duration, Deutsche Bahn is pushing for a much longer period of 27 months.

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