The main drivers’ union refuses to lift the movement, unless management makes a move on its demands.
The stations remain very quiet in Germany!
The strike started Tuesday evening by train drivers continues and will continue until Friday, according to their main union, unless there is an attractive offer on salary increases and reductions in weekly working hours.
Rene Bäselt, head of long-distance trains for Deutsche Bahn, believes these changes are essential: “We must make the profession attractive, so that people come and stay. Because many leave quickly. This is why it is necessary; we need to do something but the board of directors has no idea and is not taking action.“
More than a third of German trains late in 2023
In this context, the plan to grant bonuses worth 5 million euros to members of the board of directors of Deutsche Bahn is going badly, especially since delays have never been so significant in the country: 35% of trains were delayed in 2023, due – among other things – to a lack of investment in infrastructure.
Two shorter strikes had already affected German rail traffic in recent months. The current movement is very popular, since 80% of trains are canceled. The dialogue is nevertheless blocked because the company claims that it is impossible to respond to the request for a reduction in working hours from employees, who want a 35-hour week, instead of 38, without a salary reduction.
Freight train drivers could also stop working, raising fears of consequences for supply chains. An additional challenge for the government, which already has to deal with blocking actions by farmers.