Deutsche Bahn and the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) have reached an agreement in their month-long collective bargaining dispute, thereby averting further strikes. The railway had previously offered to agree to 36 hours with full wage compensation in two steps until 2028, but this was rejected by the union. The main issue in the collective bargaining round has been the GDL’s demand to reduce weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 while maintaining the same wages. However, details of the agreement will be revealed on Tuesday morning, with Claus Weselsky, head of the GDL, set to explain them.
In recent months, the union has caused disruptions to rail traffic, affecting commuters, travelers, and industries due to canceled freight trains. While the railway criticized the strikes as disproportionate, the union was vindicated in court. German Transport Minister Volker Wissing had mentioned possible law changes following the resolution of this conflict. Both sides announced the agreement on Monday evening and invited statements from Human Resources Director Martin Seiler and Claus Weselsky regarding its current status on Tuesday morning.
