Deutsche Bahn wants to avoid another wave of strikes by the GDL train drivers’ union
Source: dpa / Christoph Soeder
“A collective agreement with the GDL is overdue,” says Deutsche Bahn HR director Martin Seiler. The company wants to move the train drivers’ union GDL to an agreement with an improved offer – and avert a fourth wave of strikes.
IIn the wage dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the company claims that it is taking another step towards the train drivers’ union GDL. A new offer now contains a “fee component”, announced the railway on Saturday. “The group also declares its readiness to review the scope of the GDL collective bargaining regulations in today’s GDL majority companies.” In addition, Deutsche Bahn promised to receive unrestricted entitlements from the previous pension system until the end of 2020.
“A collective agreement with the GDL is overdue,” said DB Human Resources Director Martin Seiler. He urged the union to return to collective bargaining and come to an end quickly. “There are viable solutions on the table.”
The union, led by its chairman Claus Weselsky, announced that it would examine the offer and inform “in due time” about further steps. She ended her third and so far longest strike in this collective bargaining round on Tuesday. Last week, shortly before the start of the strike, Deutsche Bahn tried to prevent the labor dispute with a new offer. After the GDL had refused, the railway wanted to have the recusal to be prohibited by a court as disproportionate. But with that she failed.
On Thursday, the train drivers’ union of Deutsche Bahn issued an ultimatum for a new offer. “If a negotiable offer is not available by the beginning of next week, the GDL will start preparing for the next labor dispute on Monday,” said GDL boss Weselsky.
Despite months of wage disputes, the union and the group have not yet been able to agree on a deal. The GDL is demanding 3.2 percent more wages for a term of 28 months and a corona bonus of 600 euros. The railway wants to extend the tariff increase over a longer period of time and is offering a term of 36 months. She has already agreed to the corona bonus.
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