Union Vote Resolves Months-long Pay Dispute at German Rail Service

A months-long pay dispute between German state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn and transport union EVG is reaching an end as union members voted in favour of a mediation prop

A majority of 52.3% of EVG members voted in favour of a laboriously prepared mediation proposal, dpa learned on the fringes of the EVG’s executive board meeting on Monday.

The union said that it would accept the proposal if at least 25% of members voted in favour – if not, it would continue industrial action with an indefinite strike.

Collective bargaining began at the end of February and broke down at the end of June. Workers twice walked off the job, briefly paralysing much of the German rail network.

Both sides subsequently agreed to arbitration.

The compromise, proposed at the end of July by labour law expert Heide Pfarr and Thomas de Maizière, sets to increase pay by €410 ($453) per month over 25 months in exchange for ruling out strikes.

The first stage of €200 is scheduled for December of this year, and the second in August 2024. Additionally, there will be a one-time payment of €2,850 in October for the approximately 180,000 employees.

Structural wage increases for certain professional groups will also be implemented, which could mean an additional €100 per month for around 70,000 employees.