Deutsche Bahn engineers' strike causes chaos across Germany

Click here for more about the Deutsche Bahn strike on Thursday.

Destination boards across Germany were blank Wednesday as stranded travelers desperately sought alternative transportation in the midst of a major strike by locomotive engineers at Deutsche Bahn (DB).

The strike was announced on Tuesday with stoppages to freight services. It was expanded to include DB's passenger rail network Wednesday. It is scheduled to continue until 2 a.m., Friday (0000 UTC).

"Despite the short notice, we were able to successfully set up alternative transportation for long-distance and regional travel," DB declared. Still, the company said only "25% of long distance trains" were in operation Wednesday.

Germany is at the height of the summer holiday season and many employees are also beginning to return to their offices as vaccination rates rise across the country. The severe limitations the strike has put on train availability have meant that those trains that are rolling are so full that it is impossible to observe social distancing guidelines.

DB itself has advised those who do not absolutely have to travel, not to.

DB's competitors in both the freight and passenger rail businesses operated with no interruptions. Airlines, bus operators and rental car companies have all seen booking increases.

What is the GDL strike about?

The strike was called by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) after representatives failed to reach agreement with DB over pay raises, bonuses, benefits, job security and retirement for the GDL's 37,000 members. 

The GDL wants a 1.4% salary increase and a coronavirus bonus of €600 ($704) for 2021, as well as a further 1.8% wage increase in 2022. DB agreed to the 3.2% increase but wants to pay it out over 40 months (2022-2023). DB says the billions it lost in revenue during the coronavirus pandemic leave it no other option but the delayed payment proposal.

Are the strikes just about DB?

Observers have suggested the GDL may be using the strike to gain greater influence alongside the larger Railway and Transport Union (EVG). Unlike the EVG, which represents rail workers and public transport employees, the GDL has refused to accept wage freezes this year.

Changes to collective bargaining rules in Germany also mean the largest union in a given sector sets the wage scale. Here, too, observers suggest the GDL may be trying to lure non-union or EVG members into its ranks in hopes of eventually eclipsing the larger outfit.

Not the first GDL strike at DB

GDL Chairman Claus Weselsky repeated calls for DB to put a new offer on the table, saying a delayed payout represents a devaluation of the union's 28-month plan, equating with a raise of less than 1%. "That's not negotiable," he said.

"We expect our work to be respected and valued," said GDL boss Weselsky. When asked by German public broadcaster ZDF if new strikes may be called, he replied, "we'll make that decision next week."

Despite criticizing the strike as overblown, DB Human Resources Director Martin Seiler has signaled that he is willing to negotiate.

The last major confrontations between the GDL and DB came in 2014-2015, when the union, demanding regulatory reform, staged nine rounds of strikes over the course nine months. A six-day stoppage of work in May 2015 remains the longest in DB history.

js/csb (AFP, dpa)