The strike will cause significant disruptions, impacting millions of passengers
The State Labour Court of Hesse declined a temporary injunction sought by German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB) on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024. The decision has triggered train drivers to proceed with a planned nationwide strike scheduled to occur between 2 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Wednesday and at least 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) Friday.
The ruling, issued by the Frankfurt-based State Labour Court, upheld a previous decision from a lower court. The impending strike is anticipated to cause significant disruptions, impacting millions of passengers, as DB will be compelled to operate on a significantly reduced emergency timetable. While the new timetable is accessible online, the majority of customers will likely face travel cancellations or seek alternative transportation options.
The strike, initiated by the train drivers’ union GDL, will also involve cargo train drivers participating from Tuesday until Friday. In recent GDL strikes, approximately 80 per cent of all long-distance trains were cancelled, affecting regional carriers, particularly in eastern and southwestern Germany, as some are affiliated with the GDL.
Contentious negotiations between the GDL and DB, as well as other carriers, have been ongoing since early November. The drivers’ union is demanding improved wages while simultaneously pushing for a reduction in the workweek from 38 to 35 hours. Deutsche Bahn, however, deems the proposed work reduction impractical, citing existing staff shortages and expressing unwillingness to decrease working hours.
