Deutsche Bahn invites GDL union to more collective bargaining talks

DPA
·1 min read
The Deutsche Bahn logo hangs at the main station in Duisburg. In the wage dispute with Deutsche Bahn, the GDL union has called for 35-hour strikes in both passenger and freight transport. Oliver Berg/dpa
The Deutsche Bahn logo hangs at the main station in Duisburg. In the wage dispute with Deutsche Bahn, the GDL union has called for 35-hour strikes in both passenger and freight transport. Oliver Berg/dpa

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has offered the train drivers' union GDL a resumption of the stalled wage negotiations, a company spokesman said in Berlin on Friday, in response to an enquiry.

The company has not yet received a response from the GDL. The talks would take place on Monday if the union agrees, he said.

According to information from sources close to the negotiations, the company clarifies in its letter to the union that it had not rejected the mediators' proposal to reduce weekly working hours. Rather, on February 26 the company declared its willingness to "go beyond [its] pain threshold and bring the negotiations to a conclusion on the basis of the moderators' overall proposal."

A 35-hour strike by train drivers organized by the GDL union was continuing on Friday, restricting Deutsche Bahn's long-distance, regional and freight services.

The strike is due to end at 1 pm (1200 GMT). However, the railway will maintain its limited basic long-distance services throughout the day, the company announced. Only one in five trains was running.