Train drivers to strike in Germany
Source: Daniel Abadia, Unsplash
A six-day strike of train drivers will take place from January 24 to 29. This is the second such action of railway workers in Germany this year: the first one took place from January 10 to 12.
Last time, the strike led to the cancellation of about 80% of long-distance and regional services. Therefore, if you plan to travel to Germany during this period, keep an eye on the news and updates: in such cases, transportation companies introduce a special schedule.
Representatives of the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) have already started negotiations with Deutsche Bahn. One of the latest proposals was an average wage increase of 4.8% from August 2024 and a further 5% from April 2025. In addition, shift workers will be able to switch from a 38-hour week to a 37-hour week or receive additional pay from 2026.
However, the GDLs require that workers be paid an additional 550 euros per month and that shift workers' hours be reduced to 35 hours per week. According to DB, the latter condition cannot be met because it would exacerbate the already severe staff shortage.
