Germany's longest railway strike ever: What you need to know
January 24, 2024
The saying "punctual as a German train schedule" will not mean much this week. That's because most trains will not be running at all due to the latest railway strike.
On Wednesday, train operators for passengers in Germany went on strike, announcing they wouldn't be back to work for six days. They're protesting their working conditions and pay, which will likely cause major disruptions to most long-distance and commuter train services throughout the country.
The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), which has about 40,000 members including train drivers and other rail network employees, said it refused a pay offer presented by the Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany's publicly funded railway operator, last week.
On Wednesday, the union put forth a fresh proposal as a starting point for further negotiations with DB. However, the rail operator rejected the proposal, dismissing it as a "repetition of well-known maximum demands," its spokesperson said in a news conference.
GDL chairman Claus Weselsky criticized Deutsche Bahn's approach, labeling it a continual dismissal of all their demands. During an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, Weselsky said the union would negotiate again "as soon as Deutsche Bahn comes down from its high horse."
Why are Germany's rail workers striking?
The main point of contention in the labor dispute revolves around the required working hours for drivers on a shift schedule. Currently, drivers work a 38-hour week. The GDL is pushing for a 35-hour week, while Deutsche Bahn has offered a 37-hour week.
In addition to the hours, the union is advocating for a monthly pay increase of €555 (approximately $600) before taxes for all its members. This amounts to an 18% raise in starting salaries.
In contrast, Deutsche Bahn's latest proposal, rejected by the union, suggests an almost 13% increase for those working the full 38-hour week.
Though offers from both sides have gone back and forth, neither side has returned to the negotiating table since November.
How many railway strikes have there been?
This is the fourth time GDL drivers have gone on strike since negotiations with Deutsche Bahn began in November 2023. On December 8, the GDL initiated a 24-hour 'warning strike', a standard strategy in German wage negotiations. Nevertheless, the dispute has persisted, leading to a subsequent three-day walkout earlier this month.
The current strike began on Tuesday at 6 pm for freight traffic, and at 2 am on Wednesday, the GDL extended it to passenger traffic. If the strike continues until 6 am on January 29, as the union announced, it'll become the longest strike in Deutsche Bahn's history, costing the German economy losses of up to €100 million per day.
What have German politicians said?
On Tuesday, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz to intervene. Scholz responded that it would "not be appropriate" for him to involve himself in the labor dispute.
German Transportation Minister Volker Wissing criticized the conduct of the train drivers' union, characterizing their "one-sided demands" as a "burden on society."
"The fact that the union consistently calls for strikes without showing a willingness to come to the negotiation table is unacceptable," he told German public Radio channel Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday. Wissing did not dismiss the possibility of arbitration, but it's unlikely to happen as GDL chairman Weselsky has so far rejected the notion of arbitration.
How will Germany's rail strikes affect passengers?
According to the German National Tourist Board, around 7.3 million individuals ride Deutsche Bahn-operated trains daily, and an additional 600,000 tons of freight are moved by trains in Germany.
The ongoing strike has resulted in the cancellation of approximately 80% of long-distance trains, according to the Deutsche Bahn website, with significant disruptions in regional transport.
To accommodate as many passengers as possible, Deutsche Bahn has announced using longer trains with more seats, adding that it cannot guarantee a ride to all.
The railway authorities recommend that passengers avoid non-essential train journeys or postpone their trips. Passengers are entitled to a full refund for canceled trips and have the option to use their ticket for a later date.
Several cities, including Hamburg, Stuttgart, and the capital Berlin, have experienced heavy traffic congestion on roads and highways due to the rail strikes. Germans unable to work from home are legally obligated to arrange alternative travel arrangements.
Based on a recent survey, the GDL's work stoppage lacks public support. The YouGov online survey, published on Wednesday, indicates that 59% of participants disagree with the strike, while 34% express understanding.
However, DB is also facing increasing pressure as Germans grow weary of its consistently poor punctuality and reliability record — this despite the famous saying. While the GDL and other unions criticize the railway for mismanagement and unfair resource distribution, the company contends that it is dealing with long-term underfunding in infrastructure and a labor shortage.
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