By Sara Orlos Fernandes
During the third warning strike, the railway company (EVG) wants to paralyze train traffic for 50 hours from Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about the longest strike in union history.
From Sunday 10 p.m. to Tuesday 12 p.m. no Deutsche Bahn train should roll anywhere in Germany. Apart from long-distance traffic, regional and S-Bahn trains should not run in Berlin and Brandenburg again. It is not yet clear whether there is an emergency timetable here.
According to the Berlin Brandenburg Business Association (UVB), Berlin is particularly affected with more than 300,000 commuters and 1.4 million S-Bahn passengers every day.
Robin Rottstock (23), notary clerk from Adlershof: “I think it’s right that there’s a strike. I’ll just do my home office” Photo: Sven Darmer
Important for passengers who want to postpone their trip planned for May 14th to 16th due to the strike: You can now use your long-distance ticket booked up to and including May 11th flexibly up to and including Sunday evening. It is not possible to use the tickets after the strike this time. In this case, the tickets can be cancelled.
The warning strike also has a particular impact on pan-European freight transport. Six out of ten European freight corridors use the German rail network, and disruptions in supply chains are to be expected.
Richard Linder (69, middle), pensioner from Karlsruhe: “We’ll drive back on Sunday afternoon – if we can get through. Basically, I understand the strikes. It is the boardrooms where too much is earned” Photo: Sven Darmer
“We need a functioning emergency network, i.e. trains that still run, even if there is a strike,” demands Jens Wieseke from the Berlin passenger association IGEB.
The only ray of hope: buses, trams and subways operated by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) are not affected by the strike. “The BVG will put the maximum possible number and size of vehicles on the roads and rails,” the company said.
The EVG railway union believes that the reason for the strike is the lack of agreement in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn. The biggest point of contention is currently the statutory minimum wage. Around 2,000 employees at DB currently only receive it through allowances. This week, the union rejected a suggestion by Deutsche Bahn that the 12 euros should be included in the tables retrospectively from March of this year.
EVG does not rule out the cancellation of a strike
“For everyone who earns the least at DB AG, the limit would be 13 euros, no matter how high the wage increase would actually be,” says the EVG, “this disadvantage must go, there is no room for us to negotiate.” According to the union, a written commitment to grant everyone the full wage increase would be a prerequisite for calling off the strike.
Annette Harsch (67), pensioner from Stuttgart: “I’m torn. Although I understand the employees, I am annoyed that this is the third strike in a very short time that has been carried out at the expense of everyone. It’s slowly enough” Photo: Sven Darmer
Deutsche Bahn speaks of a tariff dictate, but was open to talks at the weekend. “This insane strike is completely unfounded and completely overblown. Instead of looking for compromises, the EVG wants to paralyze the country for an unbelievable 50 hours,” criticized DB HR Director Martin Seiler.
Rail traffic should run as usual until Sunday evening. However, there have been restrictions on the Stadtbahn between the main train station and Ostbahnhof since Thursday. Due to construction work, the section for long-distance and regional traffic is initially closed until May 25th. The S-Bahn trains will run here as usual until Sunday evening. Then they too go on giga strike.
Big train bonuses – what for?
Despite train cancellations and delays, around 30,000 managers and employees of the railways are collecting hefty bonuses this year – a total of three-digit millions, reports NDR and “Süddeutsche”.
Trick: The issues of “punctuality” and “customer satisfaction” were simply left out when calculating the special payment…
All of which the union rejects
In the collective bargaining dispute, the Bahn management wants to orientate itself on the lavish conclusion for the public service. The
Offer from the railway company: The railway employees should get inflation compensation of 2850 euros (tax-free and in several stages). In addition, wages and salaries are to increase gradually from March 2024 – by a total of ten percent for lower and middle income groups and by eight percent for upper wage groups. But all this is not enough for the EVG. Therefore: strike!