Germany: GDL union demands collective agreement for all train drivers

DB wages for all train drivers. Gerda Seibert, GDL spokeswoman, told Planet Labor that the union’s stance was based on a simple observation: train drivers attended the same training and perform the same job. Yet, the approximately 300 rail companies in Germany pay them very different wages, sometimes 30% lower than those paid by DB. For instance, Vectus, a Hessische Landesbahn subsidiary, pays train drivers 23% less than DB, i.e. €8,300 gross less per year. “It is to avoid such wage dumping that we want to sign a collective agreement (Flächentarifvertrag) with all rail companies, defining, for all train drivers, wages in line with those paid by the Deutsche Bahn” the spokeswoman went on. To that end, the GDL has already opened, or is about to, negotiations with the DB, Veolia, Arriva and BeNex as well as with three employers’ organizations, Agv-MoVe, AGVDE and AVN. According to Mrs. Seibert, the aim of such an agreement isn’t to put an end to competition, which politicians want, but that rivalry takes place outside of wages. “Businesses have to compete with punctuality, cleanliness, and excellent services, not low wages” declared the spokeswoman, before adding, “Demanding immediate 20-30% wage increases from the DB’s rivals would be unrealistic, but what we propose is a plan with several stages to reach the DB’s wage levels.”