Train strike: why the German railway runs again not – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Why the train drivers already on strike again?

The German train drivers union GDL train and arguing for months without result on a collective agreement. Even the recent offer of state company was rejected: The railway had offered the train drivers, in two stages to increase wages as of 1 July by a total of 4.7 per cent and also to pay one 1000 euros. The GDL calls against it for employees five percent more pay and an hour less work per week. Moreover Rangierlokführer should be paid as other train drivers.

that it is now already the eighth time comes to strike, but has another reason: The GDL is struggling with the larger Railway and Transport union (ECG) to impact on the railways. She wants to represent in collective bargaining and other employee groups – for instance conductor, of which according to the union, just under a third are GDL members.

Who is affected by the strike?

The exact extent is not yet clear, but according to the will of the GDL it to be the biggest strike in the dispute. Thus travelers themselves have to set on Tuesday by two clock in the morning to Sunday to six days with cancellations and delays. The railway is working on an emergency timetable and informed travelers, among others through a hotline and website. All important information for rail travelers can be found here.

The economy is also affected by the strike: Already on Monday by 15 clock should no longer freight trains rolling. According to the industry association BDI can thus damage of up to one hundred million euros per day arise.

How the policy respond?

The confrontation of GDL boss Claus Weselsky is increasingly criticized in politics, even in the union-friendly SPD. Party leader Sigmar Gabriel told the “Bild” newspaper, the railway strike was “barely understand for outsiders.” Unions Vice Michael Fuchs told the paper that had “power games of a single trade unionist” “simply unbearable”.

On Monday found a hearing on collective unit law in parliament instead. It should ensure that in future only the collective agreement of the largest trade union in a valid operation and prevent rivalries as between GDL and EVG. With the web, the GDL has far fewer members than the Railway and Transport union (ECG). Against plans to defend himself, other craft unions as the doctors’ union Marburger Bund.

The collective unit law has however been repeatedly delayed. It’ll be “unfortunately just belatedly as some regional train” criticized the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of Transport Michael Groschek in the “Neue Ruhr / Neue Rhein Zeitung”. The chairman of the Junge Union, Paul Ziemiak, demanded a quick decision. “GDL boss Claus Weselsky apparently leads a private war on board the train -. And on the back of the entire population, putting an end now must be” Ziemiak said.

How might a solution

Given the deadlock ask many stakeholders an independent arbitration – even the Civil Service Association (DBB), the GDL consulted. “If this strike does not lead to a result of the negotiations, it will be useful to have recourse to an independent third party,” said CEO Klaus DBB Dauderstädt the “Sueddeutsche Zeitung”. Also Bahn personnel chief Ulrich Weber had brought on Sunday again a conciliation into play.

That Weselsky is now pushed itself from colleagues to arbitration, might give pause to him. To date, however, the GDL boss can not be dissuaded from severe headwinds of his plans. The GDL raises the web before, this would delay the negotiations until the law is decided to bargaining unit.