German rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) took action on Monday by submitting an application to the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court for a temporary injunction to stop the newly announced strike. The train drivers’ union GDL had just declared a 24-hour strike starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, impacting both rail freight traffic and passenger services.
Unlike previous strikes which required a 48-hour notice, this time the announcement was made with only 22 hours’ warning. DB’s personnel director, Martin Seiler, condemned the short notice, calling it “a sheer impertinence” and stating that such unpredictability in train services is unacceptable.
DB also criticized GDL for ignoring collective bargaining uniformity rules and obstructing negotiations. Seiler stressed that demanding reduced working hours while simultaneously causing country-wide disruptions is unreasonable. The focus should be on preventing the strike for the benefit of customers.
This latest strike is the sixth one in an ongoing dispute over wages and working hours. GDL’s main request is to decrease shift workers’ weekly hours from 38 to 35 without reducing their pay. The repeated disruptions in passenger and freight transport have led to dwindling public support for the strikes.
A survey by public broadcaster ZDF revealed that only one in three citizens still sympathized with the strike actions. Transport Minister Volker Wissing also urged GDL to prioritize negotiations over strikes, calling the approach of striking without exploring compromises irresponsible.
Outside of rail transport, Germany’s aviation sector is also facing disruptions as Lufthansa flight attendants plan to go on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting approximately 1,000 flights from Munich and Frankfurt. The employees are demanding a 15% pay increase, while Lufthansa has offered smaller raises in stages despite doubling its profits to 1.7 billion euros in 2023.
Not just flight attendants, but ground and security staff at Lufthansa are also participating in the strike. Joachim Vazquez Buerger, chairman of the Independent Flight Attendants’ Union board, emphasized the need for cabin crew to be fairly rewarded for their contributions during the COVID-19 crisis and to partake in the airline’s success.
