German rail operator makes new offer to striking train drivers

Passengers wait on a regional railway station in Munich, southern Germany, during a wage strike by German train drivers on September 4, 2021. Christof STACHE / AFP

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn made an improved offer to train drivers on Saturday in a bid to avert a fourth strike in a pay dispute that has already paralysed large parts of passenger traffic over the holiday season.

The GDL drivers union ended its third and longest strike in this pay round on Tuesday in action that left passengers stranded and hit freight services in Europe's biggest economy.

It threatened to call a new strike if state-owned Deutsche Bahn did not come up with a better offer by early next week.

In addition to a 3.2% wage rise staggered over 36 months and a coronavirus bonus for 2021, both of which were already on the table, Bahn said it had offered an additional component and was ready to review the scope of the GDL union's collective bargaining arrangements.

It also said it had made some commitments on pensions.

"A wage deal with the GDL is overdue," said Bahn head of human resources Martin Seiler in a statement, demanding that the union return to negotiations quickly.

Among its demands, the union wants a wage increase of 3.2% but with earlier payouts and a coronavirus bonus of 600 euros.

More from Business

  • H.H. Sheikh Hamdan witnesses expansion agreement for Hewi Dubai

    H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between Dubai Municipality, the General Construction Company and Binghatti, to develop Hewi Al Barsha and Hewi Muhaisnah.

  • India to slash tariffs on cars to 40% in trade deal with EU

    India plans to slash tariffs on cars imported from the European Union to 40 per cent from as high as 110 per cent, sources said, in the biggest opening yet of the country's vast market as the two sides close in on a free trade pact that could come as early as Tuesday.

  • Dubai Chambers explores strengthening economic relations with Serbia

    Dubai Chambers explored ways to deepen economic cooperation with Serbia during a recenttrade mission to Belgrade aimed at expanding bilateral engagement across a range of sectors.

  • TikTok clinches deal for new US joint venture to avoid American ban

    TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, on Thursday said it has finalised a deal to establish a majority American-owned joint venture that will secure US data, to avoid a US ban on the short video app used by over 200 million Americans.

  • DP World unveils Dubai Food District project

    DP World has officially unveiled the Dubai Food District, a major expansion and rebranding of the Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market that will bring trade, storage, processing and distribution into a single, connected ecosystem.

News