German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) Begins Nationwide Warning Strike: Deutsche Bahn Negotiations Stalled

GDL warning strike has begun

10:06 p.m.: The nationwide warning strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) has begun. Since 10 p.m. on Wednesday evening, large parts of rail traffic in Germany have been largely at a standstill, as a union spokesman confirmed upon request.

Train drivers’ union GDL accuses Deutsche Bahn of refusing to negotiate

5:39 p.m.: After the railway canceled the collective bargaining talks planned for Thursday due to the GDL’s warning strike, the train drivers’ union accused the company of refusing to do so. “It is clearly the railway board that has no interest in a solution at the negotiating table,” explained GDL boss Claus Weselsky on Wednesday. The GDL will appear at the hearing location on Thursday as agreed “despite the railway’s refusal”.

Bahn and GDL started collective bargaining negotiations last week and agreed on several negotiation dates. The railway presented an offer that provided for an eleven percent increase in wages and an inflation bonus of up to 2,850 euros for a term of 32 months. The railway did not make an offer to reduce working hours as requested by the GDL.

The GDL is demanding at least 555 euros more money for a year, a 3,000 euro inflation bonus, higher allowances for shift work and, as a core demand, a four-day week with 35 hours with full wage compensation for shift workers. She considered the railway’s offer to be inadequate and called for a warning strike – primarily to get the railway to negotiate a reduction in working hours.

The railway then canceled the further collective bargaining talks that had actually been planned for Thursday. “Either you strike or you negotiate, both are not possible at the same time,” said Deutsche Bahn HR Director Martin Seiler, explaining this decision.

Weselsky criticized this sharply. Negotiations and warning strikes in a temporal context are not a “one-off escalation,” he explained, referring to a corresponding statement from the railway, but rather normal and common practice during a collective bargaining dispute.

84 percent more rental car bookings in Germany

5 p.m.: In Germany, 84 percent more rental cars were booked for Wednesday and Thursday than in the previous week – probably as a result of the announced warning strike at the railway. In Frankfurt am Main, the increase in bookings is as high as 157 percent, according to figures from the price comparison portal Check24. There was also an increase in bookings of more than 100 percent in Leipzig, Berlin and Cologne, according to Wednesday’s announcement.

Prices have also increased by a nationwide average of 23 percent compared to the previous week. They rose the most in Cologne (56 percent) and Leipzig (53 percent).

Bahn cancels second round of collective bargaining with GDL union

12:27 p.m.: After the warning strike was announced by the train drivers’ union GDL German railway the second round of collective bargaining was canceled. The talks planned for Thursday and Friday were canceled, said Deutsche Bahn HR Director Martin Seiler on Wednesday.

Have you already purchased a ticket? You have these rights: Rail strike begins: – Travelers should know these rights and options

Train cancellations on Wednesday and Thursday: GDL goes on warning strike

10:46 a.m.: Due to the warning strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL), rail passengers have to prepare for severely restricted long-distance traffic from late Wednesday evening. “We expect that less than 20 percent of the intercity and ICE trains will run,” said a railway spokesman on Wednesday morning. However, long-distance traffic will not be completely stopped. It was possible to draw up an emergency timetable. The digital travel information should be finalized by lunchtime. Long trains in particular would be used in order to be able to offer as many seats as possible.

The spokesman emphasized that individual trains would have to be taken out of service before the warning strike began at 10 p.m. This is the only way to ensure that the trains are where they are needed after the strike ends.

“Experience has shown that there will also be massive restrictions in regional transport,” it said. “We also expect that trains will no longer be able to run in individual regions.” Here, too, passengers are urged to find out more information online before starting their journey. Rail freight transport will also be significantly affected.

It remains to be seen whether the warning strike will also lead to restrictions for other transport companies. In addition to the train staff, the GDL also called on dispatchers to go on strike. “That would mean that trips from other rail companies cannot take place either,” said the spokesman.

Wednesday, November 15th, 7:05 a.m.: The first round of negotiations is followed by the first escalation: From Wednesday evening, rail traffic will be on strike nationwide by the train drivers’ union GDL. Deutsche Bahn expects massive impacts – and has some advice for customers. Here you can read more about it.

Deutsche Bahn is preparing for the GDL strike with an emergency plan for long-distance trains

8.40 p.m.: Following the strike call by the train drivers’ union GDL, the Deutsche Bundesbahn has drawn up an emergency plan for long-distance transport. The range of train journeys will be greatly reduced, but longer trains will be used “in order to be able to bring as many people as possible to their destination,” the railway explained on Tuesday evening.

Warning strike: Deutsche Bahn calls on customers to postpone trips

7:18 p.m.: Deutsche Bahn has called on its customers to postpone trips in light of the warning strike by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union. “The GDL strike caused by November 15th. evening until November 16th inclusive. Massive disruption to DB’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn traffic nationwide,” the company wrote on Tuesday evening on X, formerly Twitter. “Please postpone your trips.”

Deutsche Bahn has not yet announced details about the effects of the announced warning strike. The GDL has called on its members to go on a warning strike on the railways from Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. to Thursday evening at 6 p.m.

Now it is clear: GDL is on strike this week!

6:09 p.m.: The train drivers’ union GDL has called for a 20-hour strike at Deutsche Bahn, with a focus on Thursday. As the GDL announced on Tuesday, the strike should begin on Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. and end on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. The union wants to emphasize its collective demands.

“The employees’ dissatisfaction is great, their concerns are legitimate,” said GDL chairman Claus Weselsky, justifying the strike call for the train drivers, train attendants, dispatchers and members of other professional groups organized by them. “Now is the time to make improvements, there is no delay,” he emphasized.

Deutsche Bahn sharply criticized the GDL’s actions. Human resources director Martin Seiler referred to wage increases of eleven percent offered by the company as well as further rounds of negotiations that have already been scheduled.

Train drivers’ union GDL announces strike

3:33 p.m.: The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union GDL has taken a strike decision in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn. The relevant union committees have decided to call for industrial action, a union spokesman confirmed to the German Press Agency on Tuesday. Further details on the possible industrial action would be communicated separately.

The representatives of the GDL and the DB met last Thursday for the first round of negotiations for a new collective agreement and after a few hours they postponed further discussions to Thursday, November 16th. “The decision to strike at this point in time is absurd. We have just agreed on four more negotiation dates with the train drivers’ union, and we have already put an 11 percent offer on the table in the opening round,” said DB Human Resources Director Martin Seiler, according to a statement.

Warning strikes in the public sector – Verdi satisfied with the start

2:16 p.m.: In Lübeck, public sector employees took part in a warning strike organized by the Verdi union on Monday. According to the union, the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) in Lübeck, the Center for Integrative Psychiatry (ZIP) and other departments of the state administration in Lübeck were particularly affected. According to the information, the employees met in front of the union hall in the morning and from there marched through the city center.

A total of around 500 employees took part in the warning strike actions on Monday, said a union spokesman. On Tuesday, the anesthetists at the UKSH Lübeck wanted to stop work in the early and late shifts.

The union is calling for an income increase of 10.5 percent for public sector employees in the federal states, but at least 500 euros for a period of twelve months. Employers reject this demand as too high.

Railway tariff dispute: Wissing calls for “Christmas peace”

7:32 a.m.: In the collective bargaining dispute between the locomotive drivers’ union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn, Transport Minister Volker Wissing has warned of strikes during the Christmas period. “Christmas is considered a time of peace – all collective bargaining parties should think about that,” the FDP politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday). People wanted to visit relatives and friends, especially over Christmas. Therefore, he can only “appeal to all collective bargaining parties to be aware of their special responsibility and to design possible measures in such a way that people do not have to suffer.”

The collective bargaining talks between the federally owned Deutsche Bahn and the GDL are scheduled to continue on Thursday. GDL boss Claus Weselsky had threatened strikes before negotiations began last Thursday and had not ruled out industrial action over the Christmas period. Because of the strike threats, Deutsche Bahn has drawn up an emergency timetable with a greatly reduced offer. In long-distance transport it is less than 20 percent of the regular offer. In the event of a strike, Deutsche Bahn wants to use trains that are as long as possible and have more seats.

First warning strikes in the collective bargaining dispute among state employees

Monday, November 13th, 7:27 a.m.: In the collective bargaining dispute in the public sector in the federal states, the Verdi union has called for warning strikes this Monday. Verdi said employees from the TU Braunschweig and other universities, state museums and state libraries, the student union, the road construction administration, the state theater and other state institutions are involved. Colleagues from the forestry administration would also join in. A rally in front of the Braunschweig State Theater and then a demonstration are planned for the morning.

There should also be warning strikes in Oldenburg on Monday, and actions have been announced in Lüneburg, Hanover and Bremen, among others, over the course of the week.

The collective bargaining dispute in the state public service is about the salaries of around 1.1 million employees nationwide. Around 1.4 million civil servants, to whom the result is usually transferred, would also be affected. A third round of negotiations is planned from December 7th.

More information about the warning strikes on the next pages