Deutsche Bahn wants to take legal action against the strike announced by the GDL train drivers' union. The company announced last night that the railway would submit an urgent request for an injunction to the labor court in Frankfurt am Main.
“Not only is this strike absolutely unnecessary, we also consider it legally impermissible,” Human Resources Director Martin Seiler was quoted as saying in the statement.
The railway asked the GDL to call off the strike and instead accept the company's proposed negotiation date of Wednesday. “Solutions can only be found at the negotiating table,” said Seiler.
Start of strike postponed until Wednesday
The GDL called a strike that lasted several days. In passenger transport – contrary to what was originally planned – it should not start tomorrow, but rather on Wednesday night and continue until Friday night. When transporting cargo, GDL members must stop work on Tuesday night.
In the ongoing collective bargaining dispute, the GDL had already obtained the green light from its members for indefinite strikes before Christmas. GDL head Claus Weselsky announced that travelers would have to expect longer labor disputes from January 8th. However, the German Civil Service Association recently stated that there would probably be no strike at the beginning of the week in view of an important meeting of the association, of which the GDL is also a member.