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, permissible and legal.
DB appealed to the court in Frankfurt after GDL announced a 24 hour-strike that is still currently ongoing. The company claimed that the 22-hour strike notice provided for the rail freight sector was unreasonable. After the unfavourable ruling by the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court, DB said it would appeal to the Hessian State Labour Court. “It is not possible to predict when the decision will be made in the appeal process”, they specified. This means that the wave of strikes recently announced by GDL’s boss Claus Weselsky is still shadowing the German rail sector.
This is the third time DB has taken legal action against GDL. The first time, DB appealed to the Frankfurt am Main Labour Court, trying to avoid a strike planned between 9 and 12 January. The second instance was in front of the Hessian State Labour Court, where DB claimed the union was unable to carry out negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. However, both courts ruled against DB, and the strike took place. The German Ministry of Transport Volker Wissing also got involved, siding with DB and stating that GDL’s actions are damaging to Germany as a whole.