A nationwide six-day strike of train drivers continues in Germany. This is reported by foreign media.
On January 24, the fourth and longest strike of machinists to date began, organized by the German Machinists' Union (Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer, GDL) on Deutsche Bahn passenger transportation.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the country's main railway operator, as in the case of previous strikes, about 80% of long-distance trains have been canceled, with significant restrictions on regional transportation.
In November 2024, GDL demanded a salary increase of 555 euros per month and an annual inflation allowance of 3,000 euros. Deutsche Bahn also offered an 11% salary increase over a 32-month period.
Deutsche Bahn management has proposed a general salary increase of up to 13%, as well as the possibility for train drivers and train crews to reduce weekly working hours by one hour (up to 37 hours) while maintaining the same salary from January 1, 2026.
As part of the tariff negotiations, the union held a one-day warning strike in November and December, followed by a three-day strike in early January. The main requirement of GDL is to reduce working hours per week from 38 to 35 hours without reducing wages.
The Deutsche Bahn administration rejected GDL's proposals as a basis for further negotiations. The German government does not exclude the possibility of arbitration between the GDL and Deutsche Bahn trade union.
The strike also affected the work of the Austrian railways, freight transport across the Alps, in Poland and in the Scandinavian countries, as well as the work of seaports in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Deutsche Bahn AG is the main railway operator in Germany. The headquarters is located in Berlin (Germany).
