BERLIN — The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) on Monday announced a nationwide strike — its third in a month — after accusing rail operator Deutsche Bahn of failing to present a new offer.
The strike will start at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at DB’s freight division and will be extended to passenger services at 2 a.m. on Thursday. The stoppage is set to end at 2 a.m. on September 7, making it significantly longer than the two previous strikes.
Those past strikes, which each affected passenger transport for 48 hours, “obviously did not have any effect on the board of Deutsche Bahn, we see ourselves forced to pursue this labor action much longer,” said GDL head Claus Weselsky, adding that he was sorry for the passengers.
GDL wants a wage increase of 3.2 percent and a one-time pandemic bonus of €600. DB is willing to pay the increase, but there is a dispute over how quickly that raise should be paid out. The company also said it was willing to pay a pandemic premium without specifying an amount; the union is demanding a concrete offer.
Source: Politico
