Friday, April 21, 2023
On Friday, rail workers across Germany went on strike, causing significant disruptions to national operator Deutsche Bahn’s services.
The strike was organised by the EVG union and was due to run from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. However, the train network was expected to be impacted for the whole day.
Deutsche Bahn said all its long-distance connections would be cancelled until 1 p.m., and few commuter trains would run. The EVG, which is negotiating on behalf of 230,000 workers, is seeking a 12% wage increase, or at least an additional 650 euros ($715) per month.
Deutsche Bahn has offered 5% and one-off payments of up to 2,500 euros.
Germany has seen some of its most disruptive strikes in decades since last year when the war in Ukraine sent energy and food prices soaring, leading to union pressure for wages to rise in line with living costs. High inflation has also exacerbated labor problems in sectors like aviation that have faced a difficult transition following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friday’s transport strike coincided with a walkout at four German airports – Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne Bonn, and Stuttgart – by members of the Verdi union. A strike at the first three locations on Thursday led to around 700 departures being cancelled.
The strike caused significant inconvenience for commuters and travelers, leading to criticism from some quarters.
However, unions argue that workers are struggling to make ends meet due to rising living costs and that wage increases are necessary to maintain their standard of living. The strike is part of a broader trend of labor unrest in Europe’s largest economy, which has seen strikes and protests across a range of sectors in recent years.
As negotiations continue between the EVG and Deutsche Bahn, it remains to be seen how long the strike will last and what impact it will have on the wider economy.
Tags: deutsche Bahn, EVG
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
