Rail strike: only every third long-distance train runs over the weekend

The strike of the union of German locomotive drivers (GDL) at Deutsche Bahn again led to numerous train cancellations and delays over the weekend.

In the third nationwide strike round within a few weeks, it happened for the first time that passengers were affected by the strike even on a weekend.

Travelers crowded not only on the few long-distance trains, but also on the trains of private providers such as Flixtrain and coaches.

The focus of the strike is still in the eastern German federal states and in some metropolitan regions, the railway announced on Sunday.

In Thuringia and Saxony it was the last travel weekend before the start of the new school year on Monday. 

More trains run

A small sign of hope is that Deutsche Bahn, according to its own statements, was able to increase the strike schedule for long-distance traffic at the weekend: Around every third long-distance train was running despite the labor dispute, it was said.

On Thursday and Friday it was only one in four.

In regional traffic and on the S-Bahn, around 40 percent of the trains ran at the weekend, but with regional deviations.

According to a railway spokeswoman, a total of more than 9,760 employees have participated in the labor dispute since the strike began on Wednesday afternoon up to and including Sunday morning.

Around 7,000 strikers are train drivers.

The second strongest occupational group on strike is usually the on-board personnel, i.e. train attendants or employees in the on-board bistros.

Not only train drivers are on strike

The GDL wants to negotiate in the current collective bargaining round for other professional groups, for example for workshop employees, employees in administration or the rail infrastructure and the signal boxes. According to the railway, only a few workers from these trades take part in the strike. Since Deutsche Bahn wants to prevent the GDL from negotiating for these professional groups in the future, it is biased when it comes to the question of how many employees are involved. The GDL gives significantly higher numbers.

Deutsche Bahn failed on Thursday and Friday in two instances before the labor courts in Frankfurt with an injunction against the strike.

She accuses the GDL of pursuing legal and political goals with the labor dispute.

After their victory in court, the GDL announced that the strike would continue until the scheduled end on Tuesday at 2 a.m.

GDL rejects new rail offer

The GDL is fighting for more money and better working conditions for its members. With the strike scheduled for more than five days in the current collective bargaining round at Deutsche Bahn, the GDL wants to emphasize its demands for a total of 3.2 percent more money over a period of 28 months and a corona premium of 600 euros. Deutsche Bahn is ready to accept the 3.2 percent wage increase, but does not want to raise salaries until later.

At the start of the strike in freight traffic, the railway had also submitted an improved offer. Among other things, the state-owned company is promising a corona bonus of up to 600 euros for 2021 and a shortening of the term of the collective agreement from 40 to 36 months. GDL boss Claus Weselsky had rejected this offer. The strikes started last Wednesday afternoon in freight traffic, followed by the strike in passenger traffic. Competitors of Deutsche Bahn are not on strike. However, restrictions are also possible for them as a result of the strikes.