The strikes have been criticised by the management of Deutsche Bahn for taking place at unwanted moments and causing nuisances for many that depend on rail transport or have planned to go on vacation by train.

The federal chairmen of the GDL and dbb, Claus Weselsky and Ulrich Silberbach, underlined that strikes are ultima ratio measures when company managements repeatedly fail to put forward adequate proposals for collective agreement – and it is in their nature that employers find them inappropriate. A strike which would remain unfelt and unnoticed would lose its meaning.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “The activities of the GDL – which go beyond collective action taken by the EVG that has traditionally been the majoritarian union in the German railway sector – reflect trade union pluralism and the legitimate freedom of choice for employees of the Deutsche Bahn to belong to that trade union which they believe will yield better results on their payrolls and for the working conditions. Trade union pluralism contributes to achieve more social fairness for all workers.”

For further information: https://dokumente.dbb.de/dokumente/geschaeftsbereich_tarif/2021/Flugblatt_Tarifkonflikt_DB_2021_Nr1_dbb.pdf