GDL warning strike: Weselsky draws positive interim conclusions

Enlarge image

Claus Weselsky at a rally in Nuremberg: “The mood is excellent”

Photo: Daniel Karmann / dpa

The head of the train drivers' union GDL, Claus Weselsky, has drawn a positive interim assessment of the current rail strike despite criticism. »I experience discipline across the board. The mood is excellent,” Weselsky told the “Rheinische Post” on Friday. There is also solidarity with the railway workers among the population: "Many more customers understand the strike than some claim," said the union boss.

“We will bring this strike to a successful end and then we will see what happens,” Weselsky continued. If there is no movement from the Bahn leadership, “we will go on strike again. And then maybe even longer.”

At the same time, Weselsky rejected allegations that the GDL was causing significant economic damage with its walkout. »That's nonsense. We are not responsible for the alleged economic damage, but rather the railway management.”

“Then we would be stupid.”

Weselsky also criticized calls for the right to strike to be tightened in the “Rheinische Post”. It is “blatant” to want to restrict the rights of workers just because they are fighting for better working hours and higher income. »We will not make a single concession on the right to strike. Then we’d be stupid.”

“If the Union is thinking about it, that is also significant,” the GDL boss continued. "Because it was the CDU that helped run the railway down in the privatization madness." The Union is responsible for the fact that the railway has become an ailing company "that is not able to get its customers to their destinations on time." . The employees are not responsible for this.

Currently not interested in mediation

Weselsky has currently rejected arbitration of the collective bargaining dispute. »So far I haven't seen them. I reject arbitration for just as long as Human Resources Director Seiler refuses to conclude collective agreements with me about other professional groups in the company.

The GDL has been on strike on freight traffic since Tuesday evening and on Deutsche Bahn passenger traffic since Wednesday morning. The strike is not scheduled to end until next Monday evening and would therefore be the longest GDL strike in the history of the railway.

hen/AFP