In Germany, due to a strike of railway workers, three quarters of long-distance trains were canceled

In Germany, a two-day strike of the GDL railway workers’ union is taking place. In this regard, only a quarter of flights are carried out, informs the website of the state railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB).

“With regard to long-distance trains, there is a temporary plan with which we can fulfill about a quarter of the connections. However, in this situation, we cannot guarantee that all travelers will reach their destination, ”the company notes.

According to her, the strike led to “major restrictions on long-distance trains and regional routes.” The action also affected Berlin’s S-Bahn city train system, transfers Interfax.

The strike will last until 2:00 on 13 August.

According to union chairman Klaus Weselski, 95% of GDL members voted on August 10 to hold a two-day strike across the country. In the evening, the drivers of freight trains began the strike, and in the early morning they were joined by their colleagues working in passenger transport.

DB’s HR director Martin Sailer called the strike unnecessary and an excessive measure that exacerbates the situation at “the wrong time” writes DW. The actions of the railway workers’ union were also criticized in the union of the passengers of the Pro Bahn railway. “The strike on the railroad is directed not only against the company, but also against large sections of the population,” said Pro Bahn Honorary Chairman Karl-Peter Naumann.

In early June, the GDL announced the failure of months-long negotiations to improve working conditions. Deutsche Bahn, hit by the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic and flooding, has proposed a salary increase in two stages: by 1.5% from January 1, 2022 and by 1.7% from March 1, 2023. However, the union found these conditions insufficient. In addition, the management of the state concern refused to pay employees in connection with the pandemic one-time bonuses of 600 euros.

“The machinists and conductors do not need this strike, but the leadership itself provoked it. They either do not offer solutions, or they make completely inappropriate suggestions. Thus, they put us in a hopeless position and try to make us greedy and not doing our job. ” stated Euronews head of the GDL union Klaus Weselski.