Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) finally sealed the deal on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA will be retroactively implemented from 1 November 2023 and will last until 31 December 2025. One of the main bones of contention between GDL and DB is that the union wanted to…
Category: GDL
How has the German chemical industry dealt with rail strikes?
With Germany caught up in frequent rail strikes, the sector has been facing difficulties with the transportation of goods. The branch organisation of the German chemical industry (VCI) sounded the alarm bells ahead of last week’s 24-hour strike. VCI warned that the industry cannot cope with more strikes. RailFreight.com reached out to VCI and chemical […]
DB vs GDL: strikes end, agreement in sight
There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) said that a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement should be expected in the coming days. “Until then, the GDL will refrain from further strikes”, the parties stated in a joint note. Five […]
German chemical industry says it is suffering from continuous rail strikes
The German chemical industry is suffering from the continuous rail strikes, according to branch organisation VCI. The organisation’s director states that the industry cannot afford more strikes, and calls for labour union GDL and Deutsche Bahn to come to an agreement. “We simply cannot afford another standstill of the railways,” says head of VCI Wolgang […]
DB’s third attempt to take GDL to court fails
Deutsche Bahn is trying in many ways to stop the wave of strikes announced by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL). Most recently, the company tried to take legal action against the union for the third time. However, the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court ruled in favour of GDL, stating that the strikes are proportionate, […]
Third time’s the charm? DB sues GDL once again over strike dispute
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is for the third time taking legal action against the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL). This time, the company is appealing to the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court to stop the strike planned for tonight, Monday 11 March. The main reason behind DB’s actions is “the far too short lead time of […]
GDL to stage 24-hour strike starting tonight
The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) is staging its sixth round of strikes in the context of its dispute with Deutsche Bahn (DB). For the freight industry, the action will start today, Monday 11 March at 6 pm and will end tomorrow, Tuesday 12 March at 6 pm. For non-freight-related operations, the strike will start […]
More GDL strikes will come, but no date has been set yet
A solution to the dispute between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Union of Train Drivers (GDL) still seems unattainable after roughly five months of negotiations. Another round of strikes is in the books, but more are on the horizon, as GDL’s boss Claus Weselsky pointed out. During a video interview with German media outlet […]
GDL calls for 35-hour strike to get 35-hour working week
The German Union of Locomotive Drivers (GDL) called for a 35-hour strike in protest of the ongoing negotiations with Deutsche Bahn for a new collective bargaining agreement. For the rail freight industry, the initiative will start on Wednesday, 6 March at 6 pm and last until Friday, 8 March at 5 am. The choice of […]
DB vs GDL: negotiations failed, new strikes on the horizon?
The negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Union of Locomotive Drivers (GDL) seems to have taken another wrong turn. GDL accused DB of leaking confidential information to German media. On the other hand, the German company is saying that the union is “letting the negotiations collapse”. […]