Nationwide Strike by German Rail Union Over Pay Dispute

“By calling for a limited warning strike in the early morning hours, we’re sending a clear message that our action is not directed against passengers, but the companies,” EVG board member Cosima Ingenschay said. 

The Rail workers in Germany are all set to go on a nationwide strike on Friday, as the EVG calls for a day-long strike lasting from 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) to 11 a.m. (0900 GMT).

“The fact that we have to take this course of action is entirely the responsibility of the management who have so far refused to negotiate constructively,” the union said.

Does ‘pay dispute’ mark the reason for the strike?

Whereas Deutsche Bahn has been offering a 5% wage increment accompanied by a one-payment of €2,500. But the union is demanding a 12% or no less than a monthly €650 ($712) increase.

The sole reason given by the EVG members was the rising inflation and cost of living as German inflation fell from 8.8% (October 2022) to 7.4% (March 2023).

Response to the strike

EVG has more than 200,000 members calling a strike for wage negotiations will affect Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, and nearly 50 companies.

As Deutsche Bahn pointed out Friday’s strike was “unnecessary”, in reply to which Cosima Ingenschay said, “Not a single train will run.”

EVG members are hoping for a positive outcome from the strike and also create pressure on the national rail operators though Deutsche Bahn is furious. 

Joining the cause

Verdi, a major union has called for strikes at 3 airports on Thursday and Friday, the consequences being all the flights getting canceled containing tickets for some 80,000 passengers.

Airports under strike:

• Hamburg
• Düsseldorf 
• Bonn/Cologne

But here also, it has been stated by Kristian Loroch, the EVG collective chairperson that it was not a coordinated operation but just a coincidence, that both the EVG and Verdi strikes are on the same day.

Read more at How To Abroad: 

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