Germany's railway union EVG is calling on its members to take another industrial action.
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With the exception of the companies in which significant progress has already been made in the negotiations, all other of the approximately 50 railway and transport companies will be affected.
“Most employers hesitate and procrastinate in the second round of negotiations; progress is – if at all – difficult. We will therefore once again clearly signal that the existing offers need to be significantly improved. Since there is little movement at the negotiating tables, there will be another strike,†said EVG collective bargaining board member Cosima Ingenschay.
The members of the EVG are called upon to stop working from Sunday, May 14, 2022, from 10:00 p.m., up to and including Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at midnight.
Especially in the cargo area, the long walkout will have noticeable consequences and thus also economic effects.
"From its own conviction, Deutsche Bahn does not seem to want to submit a negotiable offer, obviously considerable pressure is required for this. That's why we're now setting a new tone," says Kristian Loroch.
"Our collective bargaining committees have formulated clear demands for the collective bargaining round, it is our task to enforce them now. Experience teaches us that there is often a back door, especially in the offers of Deutsche Bahn, through which supposed successes are called into question again.
"We are experiencing this again with the issue of the minimum wage. It is suggested to the public that the EVG's demands have been met and that they don't understand why negotiations aren't finally taking place."
In fact, however, the requirements of the EVG were not met. It is correct that the 12 euro minimum wage should now be in the table, but this will be associated with renewed restrictions.
“For everyone who earns the least at DB AG, the limit would be 13 euros, no matter how high the wage increase would actually be.
"This disadvantage has to go, there is no room for negotiation for us. It is completely inexplicable why the negotiators at Deutsche Bahn keep putting obstacles in their own way and thus causing unnecessary difficulties, especially since the offer made so far is unacceptable, since it does not respond to the demands of the EVG in any way. That alone is reason for another warning strike," says Kristian Loroch.
“All companies know that they have to step up their game, but obviously they need at least one more strike for this realization to finally catch on with everyone involved. In this respect, we will build up the pressure that is necessary for our demands to be negotiated. However, we will always maintain proportionality," made clear EVG collective bargaining board member Cosima Ingenschay.
“For us, a strike is not an end in itself, anyone who improves their offers in such a way that expedient negotiations are possible will not be struck. That also applies to DB AG,†explained EVG negotiator Kristian Loroch. ■