EVG: New train strike from Sunday to Tuesday
In the collective bargaining dispute with employers, the railway and transport union wants to paralyze train traffic throughout Germany from Sunday evening.
The third warning strike this year is expected to last from Sunday to Tuesday.
Train passengers have to be prepared for the longest warning strike in the current tariff conflict, lasting 50 hours. The railway and transport union (EVG) wants to paralyze practically all rail traffic nationwide from Sunday evening 10 p.m. to Tuesday night 12 a.m., as the EVG announced.
Stumbling conversations as a reason
The warning strike is intended to affect Deutsche Bahn, but also almost all of the around 50 other rail providers. The union justified this with the faltering talks that have been going on for over two months. “We will therefore once again clearly signal that the existing offers have to be significantly improved,” said EVG collective bargaining board member Cosima Ingenschay.
“Since little is happening at the negotiating tables, there will be another strike.” Cosima Ingenschay
Loroch: “No other choice”
Negotiator Kristian Loroch added: “We’re going on strike for a total of 50 hours, which increases the pressure significantly because the employers don’t give us any other choice.”
Loroch said: “Of its own conviction, Deutsche Bahn does not seem to want to submit a negotiable offer, obviously considerable pressure is required. That is why we are now setting a new emphasis.”
Effects on European freight traffic
Especially in the cargo area, the long walkout will have noticeable consequences and thus also economic effects. The railways also confirmed that they expect significant effects on pan-European freight traffic. Six out of ten European freight corridors used the German rail network. The group announced extensive goodwill regulations for the affected passengers in passenger transport.
Bahn Human Resources Director Martin Seiler criticized the labor dispute as “insane” and “completely excessive”. He said: “Instead of looking for compromises, the EVG wants to paralyze the country for an unbelievable 50 hours.”
“It’s like a full strike without a ballot.” Martin Seiler
Third warning strike
Already at the end of March, the EVG, together with the service union ver.di, had largely paralyzed traffic in Germany. At the end of April, the EVG followed up with an eight-hour warning strike.
The union negotiates for around 230,000 employees and insists on twelve percent more wages, but at least 650 euros more per month. Deutsche Bahn wants to orientate itself towards the end of the public service. 180,000 of the 230,000 employees for whom the EVG is currently negotiating work there.
The offer from the state-owned company includes around ten percent more wages for lower and middle incomes, eight percent more money for higher incomes and an additional 2850 euros inflation compensation premium for everyone. Recently, the railways of the EVG accommodated in anchoring the minimum wage in the tariff tables, but the union considers this to be insufficient.
