Is Germany’s Winter Threatened by Strikes? Key Questions Answered

Is Germany threatened with a winter of strikes? The most important questions

After collective bargaining between the GDL train drivers’ union and Deutsche Bahn failed, there is now a threat of new warning strikes. There is currently no solution to the situation in sight. You can read the most important questions about renewed warning strikes here.

Bahn-Board: GDL has rejected a three-week Christmas peace

3:05 p.m.: Die German railway has sharply criticized the decision of the train drivers’ union GDL to declare collective bargaining to have failed after the second round of negotiations. Railway personnel director Martin Seiler said on Friday in Berlin that the GDL had rejected a three-week Christmas truce, i.e. a period without industrial action at the railway. “We specifically suggested to the GDL that we have a Christmas truce between December 15th and January 7th,” said Seiler. However, the train drivers’ union with its boss Claus Weselsky was not prepared to do this.

Weselsky himself had previously said nothing about a possible Christmas truce in his statement. A few days ago he simply stated that the GDL would not go on strike over Christmas. He has not yet said exactly what period he means by this.

“The train drivers’ union wants to hit its head against the wall. As we know, that doesn’t go well,” said Seiler about the course of the negotiations. “Anyone who declares failure after the second appointment and initiates the ballot before the second appointment – you can see very clearly how much room there is for solutions. Actually, almost nothing.”

When it comes to the sticking point of weekly working hours, the HR director still sees no room for negotiation. The GDL is calling for weekly working hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 hours for shift workers. Seiler also rejects the demand for GDL collective agreements for areas of infrastructure. He could not see that the GDL had a significant presence in these companies.

GDL declares collective bargaining with Deutsche Bahn to have failed

12:17 p.m.: The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) declared the collective bargaining to have failed after the second round of talks with Deutsche Bahn. At the same time, she announced new warning strikes at Deutsche Bahn in Berlin on Friday. You can read more about the failed negotiations here.

Friday, November 24th, 8:44 a.m.: The train drivers’ union GDL and Deutsche Bahn are continuing their second round of negotiations on new collective agreements on Friday after hours of negotiations the day before. According to the railway, the teams are scheduled to meet in Berlin at 10 a.m. Nothing was initially known about the course of the conversation and possible results on Thursday. There was initially no new information about a possible further warning strike by the GDL.

Deutsche Bahn sees “no scope” for reducing working hours in collective bargaining negotiations with GDL

7:53 p.m.: Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the train drivers’ union GDL continued their negotiations in the deadlocked collective bargaining dispute on Thursday. The railway continues to reject the GDL train drivers’ union’s demand for a reduction in working hours with full wage compensation, as railway personnel manager Martin Seiler emphasized at the start of the new round of negotiations. After several hours of negotiations on Thursday, the talks are scheduled to continue on Friday.

The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) is demanding at least 555 euros more money and a 3,000 euros inflation bonus over a period of twelve months – but above all 35 instead of the current 38 hours per week for employees in shift work with full wage compensation in order to make the job more attractive given the lack of staff make.

The railway, however, argues that a reduction in working hours would worsen the staff shortage. On the one hand, it is a “large material demand,” said Seiler. But especially in view of the “very, very tight labor market” there is “no leeway”.

At the request of the GDL, the demand is still on the agenda of the negotiations scheduled for Thursday and Friday, said Seiler. We will now discuss together “how we will continue to deal with the issue”. He called on the GDL not to refuse discussions on other points. “We want to primarily talk about topics where we see possibilities for rapprochement, where compromises are possible, and not just discuss one question alone.”

The representatives of Bahn and GDL negotiated on Thursday until the early evening. According to a railway spokesman, the talks will continue on Friday at 10 a.m.

The collective bargaining talks began at the beginning of November, but the dispute has already stalled. Last week there were warning strikes at the time of the planned second meeting, and the next day the GDL initiated a ballot in order to be able to call for indefinite strikes.

The DB submitted an initial offer right at the beginning. It offers eleven percent more wages over a period of 32 months as well as an inflation bonus of up to 2,850 euros. Negotiations are now taking place on this basis, said Seiler. “It is important that we now look at the portfolio as a whole. After all, there are 35 demands on the table.”

Weselsky initially did not take part in collective bargaining with the DB

11:14 a.m.: The head of the train drivers’ union GDL, Claus Weselsky, will not take part in the second round of collective bargaining with Deutsche Bahn on Thursday. Weselsky did not come to the hearing in Berlin on Thursday morning. “We simply have further negotiation dates elsewhere, we have other dates that we also attend as the GDL,” said the deputy GDL federal chairman Lars Jedinat. It was said locally that Weselsky would join the negotiations around Thursday afternoon or evening. GDL and DB have also arranged to meet on Friday.

The GDL and Deutsche Bahn have been negotiating a new collective agreement for two weeks. A week ago, the GDL went on strike nationwide for 20 hours, around 80 percent of long-distance journeys and thousands of regional trains were canceled.

The union is demanding, among other things, 555 euros more per month and an inflation compensation bonus for a period of twelve months. The railway presented the union with an offer in the first round of negotiations and, among other things, promised an eleven percent wage increase over a period of 32 months. The crux of the collective bargaining dispute, however, is the GDL’s demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours for shift workers with full wage compensation. Railway human resources director Martin Seiler believes the demand cannot be met and sees no room for negotiation.

Jedinat emphasized that the union also wants to conclude collective agreements for employees in the railway infrastructure. So far there are only collective agreements in these areas from the competing union EVG. This is significantly more represented in the railways as a whole and especially in the infrastructure companies.

DB Human Resources Director Seiler said before the start of negotiations that he primarily wanted to talk about issues on which compromises were possible. He does not include the requested reduction in working hours. However, the GDL has put the topic on the agenda and is therefore also being discussed.

Seiler briefly commented on the fact that Weselsky is not initially involved in the negotiations: “Well, everyone has to set their priorities. I’m here and it’s clear to me what my priorities are.”

GDL collective bargaining is on the brink – will the next warning strike follow?

The collective bargaining negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers’ union GDL are heading for an escalation. A warning strike has already taken place, and an ongoing strike vote signals unrest. Here you can read more about it.

More than 300 employees at Leipzig University Hospital are on warning strike

10.25 a.m.: As part of collective bargaining in the state public sector, more than 300 employees at Leipzig University Hospital followed a call for a warning strike on Thursday. Many areas would work at emergency service level, according to a statement from the Verdi union. According to the information, a 36-hour work stoppage is planned from Thursday morning.

Employees from a wide variety of wards followed the call, “always with the aim of ensuring that the well-being of the patients is not endangered,” said the responsible union secretary, Julia Greger. A demonstration was also planned in the trade fair city on Thursday morning.

Verdi had called for nationwide warning strikes in the healthcare system. The union is calling for an income increase of 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros, for public sector employees in the federal states. In addition, it requires a minimum contract term of twelve months and permanent employment of trainees. They should also receive 200 euros more in wages. The negotiations will continue on December 7th and 8th in Potsdam.

More information about the warning strikes on the next pages.