The all out strike for German rail workers set for January 2015 is off. Management at Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the train drivers union (GDL) made the announcement on Wednesday December 17. This was after they came to an agreement to restart collective bargaining negotiations. In recognition of a reduction in the number of GDL demands DB will make a one off payment of 510 euros for the period June – December 2014 to all GDL members and also to members of the larger EVG rail union. GDL will have the right to negotiate collective agreements not only for train drivers but also specifically for 5 separate professional groups. DB made the same offer to EVG members. How the unions will manage to avoid having competing collective agreements and also how to respect the upcoming ‘single company single union’ legislation has yet to be determined.
Single payment and several agreements. Only hours before the meeting between the Deutsche Bahn social partners on Wednesday December 17, Klaus Weselsky, President of the GDL union warned that without progress the company would be open to further large-scale strike action from January 11 2015. He nonetheless tempered his threat by saying “Today I think we will see a caesura”.
Do you have information to share with us?