Deutsche Bahn has failed in its attempt to stop the planned train drivers’ strike using legal means. On Monday, the Frankfurt labor court rejected an interim injunction against the GDL union’s strike call. The railway declared that it would appeal and have the verdict reviewed in the second instance before the Hessian State Labor Court. The court had previously also dismissed a lawsuit brought by the railway company Transdev against the strike in the first instance.
The strike is also likely to have an impact on S-Bahn traffic
The GDL announced the warning strike in a statement on Sunday evening. Freight traffic should therefore go on strike from Tuesday at 6 p.m. In passenger transport, the strike is scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
As with the last work stoppages, the announced strike is likely to have an impact on S-Bahn traffic. For example, the S-Bahn in Hamburg expects, according to one Message on «X» (formerly Twitter) massive disruptions. The S-Bahn in Rostock would also be affected by the strike, as a spokesman for Deutsche Bahn said on Monday. The DB operates several regional routes to and from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania — such as the RE 1 between Hamburg and Rostock. Connections of the Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH (ODEG) — for example between Rostock and Pasewalk and Rostock and Binz on Rügen — would not be affected, there is an in-house collective agreement there.
«Christmas Peace» by GDL ended again
With the new rail strike, the GDL is reporting back after the so-called Christmas truce. The union had ruled out industrial action over the Christmas period and the New Year up to and including January 7th. Now the third and longest strike in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute is to follow. «The DB Group did not use the Christmas peace to counteract industrial action with a negotiable offer,» said the GDL.
Human resources director Martin Seiler called on the GDL to call off the strike and instead take the company’s proposed negotiation date on Wednesday. «Solutions can only be found at the negotiating table,» emphasized Seiler. Just two days ago, the railway presented an expanded offer in which the company took a big step towards meeting the union’s core demand for working hours.
Emergency timetable for the strike days
The railway announced that it would draw up an emergency timetable for long-distance, regional and S-Bahn traffic for the strike days, but that it would only contain a «very limited range of trains». «Please refrain from unnecessary travel during the GDL strike and postpone your trip to another time,» said an online information. The German Handball Association (DHB) is relying on the announced emergency schedule for the home European Championships starting on Wednesday. The strike comes at the «worst possible time» and presents the association with a «big challenge,» said DHB CEO Mark Schober.
All passengers who would like to postpone their trip planned between Wednesday and Friday due to the strike can use their ticket later. Deutsche Bahn announced this goodwill arrangement. The train connection has therefore been lifted. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge. Long-distance passengers also have the option of bringing their journey forward.
Rail traffic will be massively affected by a warning strike from Wednesday to Friday. What can rail customers do? more
Dispute over reducing weekly working hours
The fronts in the collective bargaining conflict have hardened. The GDL declared the negotiations with the railways and with the competitor Transdev to have failed in November. The crux of the matter is the GDL’s demand for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours with full pay. With its new offer, the railway took up the reduced working hours for the first time. However, Bahn personnel director Seiler refuses to pay employees the same wages. Instead, Deutsche Bahn suggests expanding existing choice models for working hours.
At DB competitor Netinera, which includes the Metronome, among other things, reduced weekly working hours have already been decided: the company agreed with the GDL to gradually introduce the 35-hour week at the beginning of 2025.
GDL is demanding 555 euros more per month from Deutsche Bahn
A strike became possible after 97 percent of the participating GDL members voted in favor of work stoppages at Deutsche Bahn and the railway company Transdev. In addition to reducing working hours, the union is demanding, among other things, 555 euros more per month and a tax- and duty-free inflation compensation bonus. The railway has already promised, among other things, eleven percent more — with a term of 32 months.
Strikes last November and December
There was already a 24-hour warning strike at the beginning of December 2023. Passenger and freight traffic was largely paralyzed. In long-distance traffic, the railway put around 20 percent of the connections on the rails in accordance with an emergency timetable. The GDL’s first warning strike in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute took place last November.
Deutsche Bahn is once again running its normal schedule for long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services. However, travelers must expect full trains. (December 9, 2023)
Two railway workers from Schleswig-Holstein explain why they are on strike and what is more important to them than money. (December 8th, 2023)
Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers’ union GDL now want to return to the negotiating table in the collective bargaining dispute. (11/17/2023)
