Frankfurt (AFP)
The German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the GDL drivers' union have agreed on a "good compromise" in the labor dispute which recently led to large strikes which severely disrupted traffic, the union leader said on Thursday.
"We have negotiated a good compromise" which "corresponds to what the railway workers deserve", explained Claus Weselsky during a joint press conference with the management of the public company, which considers for its part that "the wage negotiations can now be completed ".
Germany has been affected by three strikes since August 10.
The last one lasted five days, constituting the longest social movement in the railroad in years.
Three quarters of long-distance connections had been canceled.
The justice had rejected an appeal against the interruption of work, which also strongly disrupted the regional and urban network, in particular in Berlin, as well as the transport of the freight.
The compromise, which "unties the Gordian knot" according to Deutsche Bahn and will be valid for 32 months, includes a 1.5% wage increase in December and a further 1.8% in March 2023.
A "Covid-19 bonus" between 300 and 600 euros will also be paid on December 1, before another exceptional remuneration of 400 euros on March 1, 2022.
The agreement also puts an end to several internal conflicts around the place of the GDL union among the various representatives of Deutsche Bahn employees.
© 2021 AFP