2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
The EVG union has ended its warning strike at Deutsche Bahn. However, travelers have to expect long-distance traffic restrictions for the whole day.
"The force of the strike makes it clear how great the anger of the colleagues is that there is still no negotiable offer," said a union spokesman. As soon as the railway presents an improved offer in writing, the EVG is ready to resume collective bargaining.
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The four-hour warning strike began at 5 a.m. in the morning. ICE and Intercitys did not run, there were also significant restrictions in regional traffic, and there were hardly any trains in individual federal states. The travel centers were also on strike. Travelers and commuters were put to a hard test of patience on Monday morning. Many had to switch to the car or other means of transport. The railway stopped long-distance traffic nationwide for several hours. There were significant disruptions in regional traffic, and there were hardly any trains in individual federal states. The travel centers were also on strike.
Postpone travel to Tuesday
Deutsche Bahn recommended that travelers postpone their trips to Tuesday if possible. Long-distance tickets remained valid and can be used up to and including Sunday (December 16).
In several federal states, regional traffic was also severely affected by the strikes. In Bavaria, train traffic came to an almost complete standstill. Only the main line of the S-Bahn in Munich is in operation, said a railway spokeswoman in the morning. In North Rhine-Westphalia, too, regional traffic largely stood still. More than two dozen signal boxes would be on strike, only in some parts of the country there is still occasional train traffic, said a railway spokesman. The warning strike of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) also hit the southwest. "There are very strong disruptions in the entire regional traffic," said a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn. "In the Baden area, regional traffic is currently more or less stopped."
Also restrictions on the Berlin S-Bahn
Train traffic in Hessen was also largely paralyzed. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn announced that trains had only run occasionally. The Rhein-Main Verkehrsverbund (RMV) had stopped all operations for the nine S-Bahn lines early in the morning. Operations in Frankfurt Central Station, one of the most important rail hubs nationwide, were also temporarily suspended.
There was a significant impact on the Berlin S-Bahn. There is only about a third of the normal range here, said a spokesman. "We are trying to keep an offer up during the strike," said the company. Passengers in the capital were asked to use subways, trams and buses. The S-Bahn in Berlin belongs to Deutsche Bahn.
In long-distance traffic, all tickets bought on Monday should remain valid until Sunday, as the railway announced. For certain economy tickets, the train connection will also be lifted. In the event of travel cancellations due to the warning strike, refunds of tickets and reservations are planned. On Saturday, the collective bargaining parties in Hanover parted without result. EVG named what it saw as insufficient wages offered by the group for around 160,000 employees as the reason for the warning strikes. The railway, however, spoke of a “completely superfluous escalation”.
5.1 percent more money
According to Deutsche Bahn, the tariff offer included a total wage increase of 5.1 percent in two stages and a one-off payment of 500 euros. Instead of the second stage, employees should be given the opportunity to choose more free time. According to the EVG, this should only be possible from the beginning of 2021.
From Friday to Saturday, the railway had negotiated all night long with the EVG and separately with the union of German locomotive drivers (GDL). Both unions had originally asked for 7.5 percent more money. (dpa)
