{"id":19021,"date":"2024-03-11T21:03:48","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T11:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=50711"},"modified":"2024-03-11T21:03:48","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T11:03:48","slug":"third-times-the-charm-db-sues-gdl-once-again-over-strike-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=19021","title":{"rendered":"Third time\u2019s the charm? DB sues GDL once again over strike dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is for the third time taking legal action against the German Locomotive Drivers\u2019 Union (GDL). This time, the company is appealing to the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court to stop the strike planned for tonight, Monday 11 March.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The main reason behind DB\u2019s actions is \u201cthe far too short lead time of just 22 hours\u201d that was given to the transport sector concerning a strike starting at 6 pm today<\/a>. Moreover, DB states that GDL is unlawfully asking them not to apply the Tariff Uniformity Act (Tarifeinheitsgesetz). DB can use the policy, in place since 2015, to enforce a collective bargaining agreement based on the one with the largest representing category union and the company. \u201cThe demand for non-application of an applicable federal law is not a legitimate strike goal\u201d, they added.<\/p>\n

This is the third time DB has taken legal action against GDL. The first time, DB appealed to the Frankfurt am Main Labour Court<\/a>, trying to avoid a strike planned between 9 and 12 January. The second instance was in front of the Hessian State Labour Court<\/a>, where DB claimed the union was unable to carry out negotiations for a CBA. However, both courts ruled against DB<\/a>, and the strike took place. The main bone of contention in the negotiations is that GDL wants to reduce working hours to 35 per week, while DB says it cannot go lower than 36. The company claims this is not a big enough reason to “paralyze the entire country”. The weekly working hours, however, are not the only reason for the disagreements between GDL and DB, as the union recently highlighted<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ministry sides with DB<\/h2>\n

The news of another strike called by GDL led to a strong reaction from the German Ministry of Transport Volker Wissing. On Twitter, Wissing criticised GDL’s boss Claus Weselsky and accused him of damaging the entire country. “The GDL must talk and be prepared to compromise”, he concluded.<\/p>\n

Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n