The strike at Deutsche Bahn, which was launched last Wednesday by the train drivers’ union, has ended earlier than originally announced.
The strike action, which began on Wednesday at 2am local time in passenger transport, ended early, a spokesman for Germany’s state rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed.
The strike ended early, rather than at 6 p.m. on Monday as originally planned, because DB management and unions decided to sit down again at the negotiating table. By Sunday evening, the situation was already starting to return to normal as rail freight services resumed. On Monday morning, the DB spokesman announced that the strike in German passenger rail transport was also over.
Deutsche Bahn strike triggered for higher wages and shorter working hours
This was the fourth strike at Deutsche Bahn since November 2023 and so far, amid stalled negotiations between railway management and the train drivers’ union (GDL).
The trade unionists are demanding higher wages to compensate for the effects of inflation, as well as a reduction in the working week from 38 to 35 hours without a reduction in pay. The previous three-day strike in early January caused chaos for thousands of passengers as 80% of long-distance train journeys were cancelled.
State rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) tried to bring the union back to the negotiating table with a new offer on wages and working conditions, which was rejected by GDL. “With this third offer, which should have been an improved one, Deutsche Bahn has again shown that it shows no signs of being willing to reach an agreement,” GDL said in a press release issued before the stoppage.
In response, Deutsche Bahn’s management team criticised the GDL union’s new strike call, saying it had offered a pay rise of up to 13%, as well as the option of reducing weekly working hours by one hour. “Anyone who won’t even come back to the negotiating table after a new offer of up to 13% and the possibility of a 37-hour working week at the same pay is acting irresponsibly,” a Deutsche Bahn spokesman said.
Another industrial dispute last year pitted Deutsche Bahn management against the EVG union representing other railway employees. An agreement was eventually reached in August.
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