On 04 January, just a few weeks after signing the initial agreement with the major rail union, EVG, Germany’s rail company Deutsche Bahn signed another collective agreement, this time with the GDL train drivers’ union. It takes up the major thrusts of the earlier agreement secured by the EVG as well as addressing some specific needs of on-board crews in light of changing circumstances, not least those related to digitalization. Included in this agreement is a clear division between working time and non-working time. Outside of working hours, train drivers will not have to check their emails and neither will they have to be contactable by mobile phone. In line with management wishes, the agreement will span 29 months and expire at same time as that signed with the EVG (21 February 2021).
The choice between more pay and more free time. As with other Deutsche Bahn workers, train drivers will receive a two-stage 6.1% increase in pay with 3.5% coming on 01 July 2019 and 2.6% a year later on 01 July 2020. In addition drivers will receive a one-off bonus payment in February 2019 of €1,000 (apprentices will receive €460) to cover the period October 2018-June 2019. As with their other colleagues, train drivers will be able to choose between taking the second 2.6% tranche in the form of
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