Third consecutive salary adjustment at the railway company - Third consecutive set of railway ticket prices
The final stage of railroad wage negotiations is upon us, with the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) set to hash out their differences for five straight days. The aim is to reach a deal that will benefit the approximately 190,000 employees and ensure continued smooth train service for passengers. If successful, this would mark a rare occurrence of avoiding significant disruptions during a railway wage dispute, thanks to a no-strike agreement in place until March's end.
Cosima Ingenschay, representing the EVG, maintained a positive stance, expressing hope for a conclusion, but underscored the union's commitment to securing fair pay and job security for their members. Meanwhile, Martin Seiler, Deutsche Bahn's personnel board member, acknowledged the challenging circumstances and the numerous issues yet to be resolved. Despite these hurdles, he remained optimistic about the chances of finding a feasible solution.
If a favorable outcome emerges, the agreement would grant employees a 7.6% salary increase and a 2.6% bonus for shift workers, with part of the bonus convertible into additional days off. Additionally, the union seeks a job guarantee extending until the end of 2027. Deutsche Bahn's counterproposal includes a 4% wage increase over two years, along with a 2.6% bonus for shift workers from 2027 onwards, and a contract term of 37 months.
Negotiations have been underway since early January, but discussions thus far have resulted in little progress. The EVG has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Deutsche Bahn's initial offer, feeling it falls short of the necessary increases and commensurate job security guarantees. As the talks stretched into a third round, the EVG continued to press for improvements in Deutsche Bahn's proposals.
In the absence of an agreement, the risk of strikes looms large, potentially disrupting both regional and long-distance rail services, as well as freight traffic across Germany. The looming federal election further complicates matters, as the EVG vehemently opposes any potential changes in the government that could result in structural transitions for Deutsche Bahn. However, with the peace obligation in effect until March's end, both parties are still striving for a pre-agreement resolution to avoid any detrimental impacts on passengers during this tariff round.
Cosmina Ingenschay, the EVG's representative, emphasized the importance of achieving a fair salary increase and job security for their members during the negotiations. After the five-day negotiating session, Cosima expressed her satisfaction with Martin Seiler's openness to consider the union's demands.