Germany: GDL train drivers’ union intensifies strike movement against private rail companies

Intimidatory measures against strikers.  Since last February, the GDL corporatist union has been trying, via massive strikes, to force the Deutsche Bahn’s key private rivals to adopt three collective agreements: a Federal framework agreement (BuRa-LftV) defining basic pay very close to what the DB pays; a company collective agreement (materializing the Federal framework agreement) and an agreement protecting employees when the operator changes (see our dispatch No.  110267).  In the meantime, the GDL has managed to reach agreements with four private rail companies (Keolis, Hessische Landesbahn, WestfalenBahn and Albtal Verkehrsgesellschaft).  However, ten companies, employing about 5% of the 26,000 train drivers in Germany, “doggedly” refuse, as the GDL put it, to follow the example.  Even worse, they are allegedly threatening with intimidatory measures against the strikers.  Apparently, the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn company is paying strikers’ wages “really late.”  It seems that Veolia Verkehr Sachsen is trying to “lure” train drivers, offering individual wage increases on the basis of a collective agreement of which they are unaware.  The Ostdeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft company is doing lockouts.  To force employers to cave, the GDL announced the intensification of the conflict, calling on other employees (controllers for instance) in the companies concerned to take part in the strikes.  “Sure, these social conflicts will be shorter, but they will hit employers harder” warned GDL leader Claus Weselsky.