Settlement in Wage Dispute: German Rail and GDL Make Peace

After months of disputes, Deutsche Bahn and the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) have settled their wage conflict. A representative of the railway and the GDL confirmed the reached agreement on Monday evening, which was eagerly anticipated. Details of the wage settlement are to be presented shortly at separate press conferences in Berlin. Passengers can breathe a sigh of relief as further strikes in the current wage round have been averted. The mutual confidentiality maintained during the negotiations bolstered hopes for a prompt resolution of the wage dispute. The chairman of the GDL, Claus Weselsky, and the railway representatives had repeatedly expressed their confidence in being able to amicably resolve the conflict. The negotiation points were quite challenging: a central issue was the reduction of working hours for shift workers, vehemently demanded by the GDL. Whether the railway finally conceded to the demand for a 35-hour week remains initially unclear. Most recently, the railway offered a reduction to 36 hours, which was not accepted by the union. In the course of the negotiations, the GDL also raised demands for higher wages and an inflation adjustment premium. The agreement was also politically welcomed. Isabel Cademartori from the SPD highlighted the importance of the agreement for the stability and reliability of rail traffic, especially in view of the traffic-intensive Easter period. Previously, the GDL had already repeatedly extended its action measures and shortened the notice periods for strikes, which further increased the pressure on the negotiations. With the agreement now reached, this pressure is at least off the table for the duration of the new contract.