In a major breakthrough, the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn have reached an agreement in their month-long collective bargaining dispute, avoiding further strikes. The details of the agreement will be announced on Tuesday morning. After six industrial disputes, failed moderation, and a court dispute, talks have resumed.
The head of the GDL, Claus Weselsky, will explain the details of the agreement on Tuesday. The railway’s Human Resources Director, Martin Seiler, will also provide a statement on the current status of the collective bargaining agreement with the GDL.
The main issue in the collective bargaining round was the GDL’s demand for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours while maintaining wages. The railway had offered 36 hours with full wage compensation in two steps until 2028, but the union rejected this proposal.
However, following negotiations with Transport Minister Volker Wissing and other stakeholders, Deutsche Bahn has agreed to a compromise that meets both parties’ requirements. Under this new agreement, shift workers will receive a gradual reduction in weekly working hours over several years while still receiving full wage compensation until they reach their desired target of 35 hours per week. This compromise is expected to provide relief to both workers and rail travelers alike who were disrupted by previous strikes.
