German train drivers on Tuesday began what could be the biggest strike in the country’s modern history until Monday. It will begin with a freight strike, and then, at dawn, a passenger strike.
This is the fourth strike in three months by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania trade union as part of a conflict with the German state railway company (DB) over wages.
The company offered a 4.8% pay rise from August this year and a second increase of five per cent, as well as a one-off payment of 2,850 euros to offset inflation.
He also proposed reducing working hours from 38 to 37 hours from 2026.
The union, in turn, demands a reduction in working hours to 35 hours, a monthly increase of 555 euros and a one-time payment of three thousand euros.
The Institute of German Economics (IW) in Cologne estimates that the strike will cost up to one billion euros, as several companies will be forced to stop or reduce production due to delays in the delivery of components.
“The German economy is in recession, which could be worsened by the strike,” said IW economic research director Michael Gromling.
In turn, Transport Minister Volker Wissing said that the conflict was reaching destructive proportions.
The strike is expected to begin on Wednesday at 2:00 am (1:00 am in Lisbon) on passenger transport, and on freight transport the suspension will begin at 18:00 on Tuesday (5:00 pm in Lisbon).
The strike, which is expected to end next Monday at 18:00 (17:00 in Lisbon), will also be the longest of four called by the GDL since mid-November, when German trains stopped running for 20 hours.
In its statement, the union accused DB of “relentlessly pursuing a policy of refusal and confrontation.”
The state railway company accused the GDL of acting “totally irresponsibly” by using the new strike as a way to promote the union rather than as a last resort.
During the latest strike, which began on January 9 and lasted for three days, DB acknowledged “huge disruptions” to rail services across Germany.
DB spokesman Achim Staus clarified that about 20% of trains operate on intercity routes and that there are also “massive restrictions” on regional services.
Last year the company also had a dispute with the EVG union, which represents about 180,000 workers in other trades in the railway sector. An agreement was reached at the end of August.
Over the past year, Germany has seen rising social strife in various occupational sectors amid rising prices that are eroding workers’ purchasing power.
The demands also weaken the coalition government led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, whose popularity has fallen to historic lows.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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