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Volker Wissing visiting a railway maintenance hall: “Impact on prices”

Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa

After the collective bargaining agreement between the company and the GDL train drivers' union, Deutsche Bahn passengers are primarily relieved that the time for strikes is over, at least on the rails. But Transport Minister Volker Wissing sees financial consequences of the compromise for consumers. He expects higher prices for rail customers.

"The railway is in operation, in competition with other rail companies and that is why this will have an impact on prices for consumers, that is clear," said Wissing on the RTL/ntv program " Frühstart ". This would entail wage increases, but these should be possible. According to the FDP politician, this is a negotiation process between the operational interests of the railway and thus also of its customers and the legitimate interests of the employees.

Internal documents from the railway, which SPIEGEL reported on, also suggest that traveling by train will probably become significantly more expensive. Also because the company is missing money due to federal austerity measures.

While politicians from the Greens and the Left see the railway's collective bargaining agreement on a 35-hour week for train drivers as a model for other industries, the FDP is much more skeptical.

“Reducing working hours is an option, especially for jobs with high levels of stress,” said the Green Party labor market expert and former Ver.di boss Frank Bsirske to the “Tagesspiegel”. »It helps you to be able to carry out your job healthily for longer and makes it easier to attract young professionals.«

Left MP Bernd Riexinger made a similar statement. “I am convinced that other professional groups such as public transport workers, educators and nurses will follow,” he told the newspaper. Trade unions and the left have been calling for a 35-hour week “for a long time”. The train drivers' union GDL demonstrated how this demand could be enforced through industrial action.

The economic policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, however, expressed skepticism. “You can reduce working hours when you become more productive,” said Reinhard Houben in the ARD “Morgenmagazin.” Such a model is “difficult” where productivity cannot be increased.

It will now be the railway's job in the coming years to get enough train drivers so that the service can be maintained. It is also important to remain flexible for everyone who wants to work more or longer, demanded Houben.

Bahn and GDL have agreed on a gradual reduction in standard weekly working hours from 38 to 35 hours by 2029 with full wage compensation. That was one of the main demands of the GDL. There were strikes six times, sometimes lasting for days, to support this demand.

mmq/AFP