Post-2024 Strike Waves' Aftermath: Numerous Train Drivers Opt Against Cutting Work Hours

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced that a majority of its shift workers have chosen to work more than 37 hours a week, opting for a 2.7% wage increase instead of a reduction to a 35-hour workweek as proposed in the GDL tariff agreement.

The decision, made by about 1,700 out of the approximately 8,000 DB employees affected by the agreement, was revealed in a DB internal document. The evaluation shows a trend towards a majority of shift workers choosing to work more than the proposed 37 hours.

The DB's assessment of the situation is considered very positive, given the potential staff shortages due to the shortage of skilled workers. The company had earlier expressed concerns about the potential impact of reduced working hours on staff shortages during the collective bargaining negotiations with the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL).

The GDL had called for strikes at Deutsche Bahn in 2024, demanding a 35-hour work week. However, the DB's internal document states that there will be 'no capacity deterioration' due to the employees' decision, meaning the railway does not have to look for new specialists to fill the positions.

The DB gave shift workers a choice between working 37 hours a week and receiving the additional 2.7% pay, or continuing to work 38 hours a week. The deadline for this choice was June 30th. If shift workers did not register, their working hours would have been automatically reduced.

The collective agreement allows for a voluntary reduction in working hours to 35 hours by 2029 in several stages. The DB now assumes that more than 90% of the train personnel will work more than 37 hours a week in the coming year, based on further changes through the collective agreement.

The figures from the evaluation are preliminary but suggest a trend towards a majority of employees not opting for the reduced workweek. According to the DB evaluation, 66% of shift workers who were paid according to the GDL tariff participated in the vote.

The dpa, dts news agency, and EVN have updated their information on this matter. The GDL tariff agreement applies to approximately 10,000 DB employees, with about 8,000 working in shifts. The potential worst-case effect of up to 1,000 missing full-time positions due to the GDL's demands has been avoided.