Update: 26.03.2024
After multiple strikes and months-long negotiations, the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn reached a collective agreement in Berlin today, 26 March 2024.
GDL Chairman Claus Weselsky announced, "The GDL and its members succeeded in pushing through a reduction in working hours for shift workers and a 35-hour week without a reduction in pay for the future."
Both parties reengaged in negotiations mid-March, marking a continuation after six rounds of strike action. According to Reuters, this dispute over wages is one of the longest in the history of Deutsche Bahn.
The agreement provides several benefits to rail workers, including a general increase in the monthly salary and an inflation compensation bonus.
"With the collective agreement, we have achieved a historic breakthrough and are therefore setting an example for other unions in this country," said Weselsky.
Update: 11.03.2024
A new statement was published late Sunday, 10 March, to announce further strikes this week.
According to the union, GDL, passenger rail will go on strike on Tuesday, 12 March, at 2:00 local time and until Wednesday, 13 March, at 2:00.
Freight transport strike will start today, 11 March, at 18:00 and end on Tuesday, 12 March, at 18:00.
This is the sixth time the German rail has gone on strike. The GDL claims the employer, Deutsche Bahn (DB), has missed the deadline to submit a written offer by 10 March, prompting new strikes on short notice.
Update: 04.03.2024
The union announced this morning that the latest round of negotiations with the Deutsche Bahn failed again, prompting a new industrial action nationwide.
"The pressure from the striking GDL members has obviously not been enough to get the railway board to give in, so the strikes now have to be expanded," said the union in a statement.
Starting on 6 March, the strikes will continue for 35 hours, impacting passenger and freight transport.
In the statement, the GDL said the freight transport strike will begin on Wednesday, 6 March, at 18:00 local time. The strike will end on Friday, 8 March, at 5:00.
Meanwhile, passenger rail will halt from Thursday, 7 March, at 2:00 local time until Friday, 8 March, at 13:00.
In a new form of escalation, the union highlighted that future strikes may happen without notice.
"The GDL forewarns that it can no longer guarantee that travellers will be informed in a timely manner in the event of future strikes," said the union.
As a result of the new action, delays in rail transport are expected during the strikes and until operations return to normal.
In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact your Kuehne+Nagel representative for information about your shipment.
Update: 22.01.2024
Rail workers will carry out a new industrial action in Germany this week. The rail union GDL called on its members this morning to go on strike for six days starting Wednesday, 24 January, until Monday, 29 January.
According to the union's press release, this strike will impact "all DB companies, including infrastructure [workers], and the City-Bahn Chemnitz."
In addition, the union called on its DB Cargo members to begin a strike on Tuesday, 23 January, starting at 6:00 pm.
The union's announcement highlighted that the third offer it received from Deutsche Bahn didn't show "any desire to reach an agreement."
"With the third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn AG has once again shown that it is undeterred in pursuing its previous course of refusal and confrontation," said the union.
Update: 08.01.2024
Members of the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) employed at Deutsche Bahn AG, Transdev, and City Bahn Chemnitz will strike for three days this week, halting the movement of cargo and passenger trains across Germany.
Cargo trains will not run from Tuesday, 9 January, 6 pm until Friday, 12 January, 6 pm. Disruption to passenger services will begin on Wednesday, 10 January, from 2 am.
According to media reports, Deutsche Bahn has filed an interim injunction with courts in Frankfurt to stop the strikes from taking place. It is not yet clear if this will be granted.
In mid-December, the GDL announced it would begin strikes on 8 January should an agreement not be reached with the employer.
In an effort to avoid this, Deutsche Bahn submitted a revised proposal last Friday to address the flexible working hours for its shift workers.
The union rejected this, as it sought a reduction in working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours per week without loss of wages. After the breakdown of negotiations, the union announced extended strikes, already approved by its members, would begin later this week.
The strikes are expected to heavily delay rail transportation of containers to and from ports.
Should you have any questions regarding the strike's impact on your shipments, please contact your local Kuehne+Nagel representative.
Update: 20.12.2023
Members of the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) voted in favour of "unlimited strikes" yesterday after negotiations with employers, including Deutsche Bahn, failed.
According to the union's statement, 97% voted 'yes' for an unrestricted industrial action, which will likely exceed the customary 24-hour limit.
The vote "clears the way for the expansion of the Labor disputes," said GDL.
The exact dates of the strike were not announced by the union. However, Claus Weselsky, head of the GDL, assured the German public that no strikes would take place during Christmas time.
Original article: 15.12.2023
The German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) said it would start a prolonged industrial action on 8 January 2024 if an agreement were not reached with employer Deutsche Bahn.
On 19 December, union members will vote on further strikes next year, said German news agency Augsburger Allgemeine.
In an interview with the agency, Claus Weselsky, head of the GDL, threatened, "There will be longer strikes in January after a successful strike vote. There will be no more 24-hour strikes."
"That would be foolish; after all, it has been proved that two 24-hour strikes have zero effect on the railway board members," he added.
In the meantime, Weselsky assured the public there will be no more strikes in December 2023.
Union members had earlier staged a 24-hour strike nationwide on 7 December that impacted both passenger and freight rail.
But it seems that the union's relations with other employers are improving.
The GDL announced yesterday that it reached a "historic collective agreement" with the companies of the NETINERA Group.
According to a press release, workers will get a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers, salary increases and an inflation compensation bonus of 1,900 euros added to the 1,100 euros already paid.
