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New Wave of Strikes in Germany: Train Drivers' Union Escalates Wage Dispute

New Wave of Strikes in Germany: Train Drivers' Union Escalates Wage Dispute
photo: Volker Emersleben / DB AG / Public domain/Berlin Hauptbahnhof
23 / 01 / 2024

Yet another train drivers strike has been announced in Germany at short notice as announced by the German train drivers' union.

The German train drivers' union (Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer, or GDL) has confirmed another strike from Wednesday, January 24, 2 a.m. to Monday, January 29, 6 p.m. The work stoppage at DB Cargo will begin on January 23, starting at 6 p.m., making a massive impact on all German operations.

According to Deutsche Bahn (DB), there will be considerable restrictions for the rail freight transport industry and business, but the company stated that will do everything in its power to get supply-related freight trains to their destinations in coordination with its customers.

The new DB offer / DB AG / Public domain

It's the second strike this year, with the first one having occurred at the beginning of January, from the 10th to the 12th of the month. With this move, GDL progressed further in a long-running dispute over wage increases and reduced working hours at DB, which made another attempt to bring the GDL back to the negotiating table.

"The train drivers' union has not been interested in real and serious negotiations so far," said Martin Seiler, DB Board Member for Human Resources, at a press conference in Berlin. "To avert further senseless escalation, we are now once again making major concessions and reaching out to the train drivers' union once again. In return, we expect that we will finally talk to each other again and look for solutions together. Insisting on maximum demands will lead us nowhere. We want to reach a good compromise. That is what responsible social partnership is all about."

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