Good news for train drivers: The train drivers’ union GDL and Deutsche Bahn have reached an agreement in their collective bargaining dispute, thereby averting further strikes.
The months-long dispute between the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn (DB) is over. Both sides announced the agreement on Monday evening. So there will be no more strikes over Easter. In general, rail customers are no longer threatened with strikes.
The argument was tough, but we were now able to agree on an intelligent compromise.
35 to 40 hours: individual weekly working hours
The 35-hour week with full wage compensation that the GDL is aiming for is coming – for everyone who wants it. By 2029, it will gradually be possible for GDL members to work 35 hours per week without a reduction in salary. But: If you want to work more, you can do so – up to 40 hours per week. “Anyone who decides to work more will receive 2.7 percent more wages per hour,” says the railway. With 40 hours, around 14 percent more wages would be possible.
There will also be a wage increase of 420 euros in two steps: on August 1st of this year there will be 210 euros more, and on April 1st 2025 there will be another 210 euros more. In addition, the railway pays its GDL members an inflation compensation bonus of 2,850 euros.
Johannes Frewel reports from Berlin about the agreement:
News March 26, 2024 Deutsche Bahn and GDL end tariff dispute
Duration 1:08 min
With full wage compensation from 2026 to 2029, gradually from 38 to 35 hours per week for train drivers in shift work – the train drivers’ union GDL has pushed through its main demand in the collective bargaining agreement with Deutsche Bahn. Plus 420 euros more money per month in two installments this year and next. Johannes Frewel reports from Berlin.
Peace obligation: no GDL strikes until February 2026
For Deutsche Bahn customers, the agreement with the GDL means above all that they no longer have to fear strikes. The peace obligation applies until February 2026. The negotiated new collective agreement runs until the end of 2025, after which there will be a two-month negotiation phase during which GVL members are not allowed to strike. As Deutsche Bahn reports, arbitration modalities would be agreed before the negotiation phase in the event that an agreement could not be reached.
Good news for our customers and employees: Deutsche Bahn and the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union have reached an agreement in the current collective bargaining round. This means that the tariff conflict with the #GDL has been resolved. More info: pic.twitter.com/an6JHtfvaa
The 35-hour week was the main point of contention
The biggest point of contention was the GDL demand for a 35-hour week with the same salary. In addition, an inflation compensation payment and the term of the collective agreement were negotiated. The collective bargaining dispute lasted more than four months. In total, train drivers brought train traffic to a standstill six times through strikes.
EVG collective agreement until March 2025
The collective agreement that the railway has concluded with another union, the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), runs until the end of March 2025. From then on, strikes would be possible again, but not from GVL, but from EVG. After the agreement with GVL, DB human resources director Seiler ruled out renegotiations with EVG.