Train drivers' strike: Tariff expert warns GDL of "media disaster"

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GDL boss Claus Weselsky: “Tipping point for members’ willingness to strike”

Photo: Maja Hitij / Getty Images

Large parts of rail traffic in Germany are at a standstill.

For GDL boss Claus Weselsky, an expression of the power of his small union.

But with its tough strike on the railways, the GDL is taking an increasingly risky course, according to an expert.

“After this strike, we absolutely have to talk to each other again, ideally under the guidance of an independent moderator,” said tariff expert Hagen Lesch from the Cologne Institute for the German Economy (IW) to the dpa news agency.

The GDL must prevent public opinion from turning against the train drivers.

This is an important influencing factor when it comes to keeping your own members in line.

»Another round of strikes without prior negotiations could be a media disaster for the GDL.

“That could also be a tipping point for the members’ willingness to strike,” warned Lesch.

With sharper public criticism, the GDL's financial support for strike pay from the German Civil Service Association is also in question.

Those responsible had already urged the GDL to mediate in the 2015 rail collective bargaining dispute.

The current tariff dispute between Bahn and GDL has been going on since November.

The fourth and, at six days, longest industrial dispute is currently underway.

In addition to financial demands, the dispute primarily revolves around the issue of reducing weekly working hours for shift workers.

The GDL wants to reduce this from 38 to 35 hours while keeping the salary the same.

The railway has so far offered an option model that provides for a one-hour reduction without financial losses.

Anyone who decides against this will instead receive 2.7 percent more money.

Union boss Weselsky sees the offer as no basis for further negotiations.

"Unlike with a moderator, you simply can't make any progress in the current situation," said union researcher Lesch.

Deutsche Bahn suggested this early on.

The GDL has so far rejected such a procedure.

One problem is the hardened fronts, said Lesch.

According to the GDL, the railway refuses to negotiate a collective maintenance agreement with the GDL.

The GDL in turn makes this a prerequisite for new negotiations, says Lesch.

Under the guidance of a moderator, there is an opportunity to put such lines of confrontation on the back burner and to put things on the agenda where it is easier to reach an agreement.

This is necessary in order to even get back into discussions.

Railway representative criticizes “playing with fire”

The federal government's railway commissioner, Michael Theurer (FDP), also warned of the consequences of the messy tariff dispute.

He sees a threat to the transport transition.

“With new and ever-longer strikes, the climate-friendly mode of transport, rail, is becoming increasingly less attractive,” said the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport to the Editorial Network Germany (RND).

“Anyone who has previously considered switching from the car to the train now has another counter-argument,” he added.

"It's playing with fire."

Theurer called on the train drivers' union and the federally owned railway company to negotiate.

»I therefore expect the collective bargaining partners to approach each other, possibly supported by an arbitration procedure between the GDL and Deutsche Bahn.

A solution must be found at the negotiating table,” said the FDP politician.

Spahn calls for new right to strike

The chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers, NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer, was alarmed about the impact on the economy.

“The strike hits commuters as well as the economy to the core,” said the Green politician.

“This puts further strain on the rail system and is diametrically opposed to the goal of transporting more people and goods by rail.”

Krischer said he had “no understanding” for a six-day strike without serious negotiations.

»It doesn't seem to me that the positions are at all insurmountable.

That’s why everyone should go back to the negotiating table to find a solution quickly.”

The deputy Union parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Jens Spahn, accused the GDL of blackmail and spoke out in favor of a new right to strike.

The CDU politician told “Bild”: “This borders on blackmail and must end as quickly as possible.” The damage to citizens and the economy is great.

"The constant and long-lasting strikes at the railways are poison for our economy." Spahn called on the GDL leadership to quickly return to the negotiating table.

At the same time, he called for changes to the right to strike for companies in the critical infrastructure sector.

Accordingly, arbitration proceedings must become mandatory before strikes.

mmq/dpa AFX