GDL announces 6-day strike as Deutsche Bahn Pay Dispute escalates

25 Jan 2024 CW Team

Scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. on Wednesday (and a few hours earlier for freight services), the strike is set to persist until 6 p.m. the following Monday. This proposed action, the fourth in the ongoing dispute over pay between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the GDL, surpasses the duration of previous strikes.

Despite DB's attempt to entice the union back to negotiations with a new pay and conditions proposal on Friday, the GDL rejected the offer. In a press release, the union criticised DB, stating, "With its third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn has again shown that it is continuing its previous course of noncompliance and confrontation ? there's no trace of a willingness to reconcile."

The GDL is advocating for an additional ?550 (approximately $600) per month before tax for employees, alongside an inflation compensation payment fixed for only 12 months. The union is also pushing for an immediate reduction in shift workers' hours from 38 to 35, with no corresponding change in remuneration.

In contrast, DB's latest offer includes a 4.8% average pay increase for employees starting in August, followed by an additional 5% as of April 2025. The terms also incorporate a compensatory payment fixed for 32 months to account for inflation. Starting in 2026, employees on shift rotations would have the option to reduce their workload from an average of 38 hours a week to 37 or receive extra pay if they choose not to decrease their working hours.

DB has argued that implementing the GDL's proposed reduction in shift workers' hours is impractical due to ongoing efforts to recruit new staff, as such a reduction would exacerbate existing personnel shortages.

The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) has announced plans for a nearly week-long strike commencing in the early hours of Wednesday, rejecting Deutsche Bahn's purportedly improved offer. The GDL trade union, representing predominantly train drivers alongside other rail network personnel, disclosed the upcoming six-day industrial action on Monday. Scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. on Wednesday (and a few hours earlier for freight services), the strike is set to persist until 6 p.m. the following Monday. This proposed action, the fourth in the ongoing dispute over pay between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the GDL, surpasses the duration of previous strikes. Despite DB's attempt to entice the union back to negotiations with a new pay and conditions proposal on Friday, the GDL rejected the offer. In a press release, the union criticised DB, stating, With its third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn has again shown that it is continuing its previous course of noncompliance and confrontation ? there's no trace of a willingness to reconcile. The GDL is advocating for an additional ?550 (approximately $600) per month before tax for employees, alongside an inflation compensation payment fixed for only 12 months. The union is also pushing for an immediate reduction in shift workers' hours from 38 to 35, with no corresponding change in remuneration. In contrast, DB's latest offer includes a 4.8% average pay increase for employees starting in August, followed by an additional 5% as of April 2025. The terms also incorporate a compensatory payment fixed for 32 months to account for inflation. Starting in 2026, employees on shift rotations would have the option to reduce their workload from an average of 38 hours a week to 37 or receive extra pay if they choose not to decrease their working hours. DB has argued that implementing the GDL's proposed reduction in shift workers' hours is impractical due to ongoing efforts to recruit new staff, as such a reduction would exacerbate existing personnel shortages.