The train drivers are going back into industrial action: From Thursday, passenger transport at Deutsche Bahn will be on strike for 35 hours. Further actions are to follow without announcement. Hesse’s transport associations expect disruptions in S-Bahn and regional transport.
The next strikes are coming at the railways. The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) wants to go on strike on passenger transport in Germany from Thursday at 2 a.m. The strike ends on Friday at 1 p.m., as GDL boss Claus Weselsky announced at a press conference on Monday. Freight transport will be on strike from Wednesday evening.
“The negotiations have failed,” said Weselsky, “logically further labor disputes will follow.” The first industrial action that has now been announced will last 35 hours, “so that everyone in the Republic realizes what we are about: namely the 35-hour week.” The GDL said this number will continue to be reminded to the railway management in the future, “again and again if necessary”.
Effects in Hesse
The strike will also affect train traffic in Hesse. The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) stated that it can be assumed that S-Bahn and regional trains in the RMV area will be affected. More information will follow.
The North Hessian Transport Association (NVV) announced that failures on many regional train lines were possible. Among others, the RE2 from Kassel to Erfurt, the RE30 from Kassel to Frankfurt and the RE39 from Kassel to Bad Wildungen were listed. It is unclear to what extent replacement timetables will be drawn up. If signal boxes are also on strike, there could be train cancellations on other regional train lines as well as on the RegioTram.
Train drivers announce “wave strikes”.
Weselsky blamed the railway for the failure of the negotiations. At the same time, he said that the current strike would only be the beginning until the railway gave in. Further strikes are to follow, but they will “no longer be announced individually,” said the GDL boss, and they will no longer be informed 48 hours in advance: “We are starting so-called wave strikes.”
The GDL and the railway actually wanted to negotiate until Sunday. However, according to the company, the union broke off the talks prematurely. The main point of contention remains the GDL’s demand for a 35-hour week with full wage compensation.
Deutsche Bahn: “A sheer imposition”
Deutsche Bahn accused the GDL of endangering the German railway system with its behavior in the collective bargaining dispute and the recent strike announcement. The union is “stubbornly and selfishly” insisting on its maximum demands, explained DB human resources director Martin Seiler on Monday. However, the demands “cannot be met and pose a massive threat to the railway system”.
“These so-called wave strikes are a sheer imposition on our passengers,” explained Seiler. “We appeal to the GDL to come back to the negotiating table and find solutions that are in everyone’s interest.”
Passenger association calls on politicians to intervene
The Pro Bahn passenger association made serious accusations against GDL and DB. “The collective bargaining partners are currently destroying the transport transition,” said Pro-Bahn boss Detlef Neuß to the Düsseldorf Rheinische Post. “What’s going on now can no longer be conveyed to passengers.”
Despite the legal autonomy in collective bargaining, it is now time for politicians to take action. “The federal government owns the railway. That’s why it has a duty to intervene.”
Train drivers and Lufthansa employees go on strike at the same time
The first of what will likely be several strikes is likely to hit travelers particularly hard, as the Verdi union is striking Lufthansa at the same time. The airline’s ground staff should stop work from Thursday morning (4 a.m.) to Saturday morning (7:10 a.m.).
In the ongoing collective bargaining dispute for around 25,000 ground workers, there have already been two waves of warning strikes, each of which paralyzed passenger traffic for around a day. Massive failures are to be expected again this time.
Verdi announces new strike Two-day warning strike at Lufthansa hits passengers
The wave of warning strikes at Lufthansa continues: The Verdi union has called on ground staff to go on a two-day strike on Thursday and Friday. Frankfurt Airport is threatened with collapse again.
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Broadcast: hr-iNFO, March 4, 2024, 12 p.m
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