Train Driver Strikes Will be ‘Longer and More Intense’ in 2024

The train drivers’ union (GDL) has announced that strikes will become “longer and more intense,” GDL leader Claus Weselsky told Bayerischer Rundfunk radio on Thursday.

The announcement came as the GDL wanted to increase the pressure in the current collective bargaining round. The union is demanding a reduction in working hours for shift workers.

A ballot on indefinite strikes is already under way in the unusually tough collective bargaining round for train drivers.

“We will count the ballot on December 19 and will not strike in the first week of January, but after that the strikes will be longer and more intense,” the GDL leader said.

Travellers and commuters on Germany’s rail network are again being forced to make alternative travel plans on Friday, as the fourth strike at rail operator Deutsche Bahn this year kicks in.

The train drivers’ union GDL had called on its members to walk off the job on Thursday evening at 10 pm (2100 GMT). The strike on Deutsche Bahn’s passenger services will end 24 hours later, on Friday evening at 10 pm.

Deutsche Bahn criticized the GDL for spoiling the second Advent weekend for millions of people. A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so close to the timetable change was irresponsible and selfish, criticized Martin Seiler, a member of Deutsche Bahn’s executive board for human resources.

“Instead of negotiating and facing up to reality, the train drivers’ union is going on strike for unrealizable demands. This is absolutely unnecessary,” he said.

The GDL last called a strike at Deutsche Bahn on November 15 and 16.

In March and April, the larger railway and transport union EVG called one-day strikes.

Disruptions are expected to occur even before the strike begins, and to have knock-on effects afterwards. An emergency timetable with greatly reduced services will apply during the strike.

Employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn suburban rail companies in Berlin and Hamburg as well as the railway companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz and other companies have been called out on strike.

A freight transport strike will begin at 6 pm on Thursday evening.

“The employers are stonewalling everywhere and are not prepared to give the employees the appreciation and recognition they deserve for the work they have done,” criticized the union.