Germany's main railway operator and a union representing many train drivers have finally reached a deal after a long dispute over working hours and pay. The agreement comes after a series of strikes that have disrupted train services in the country.
Details of the agreement between the GDL union and state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn have not been disclosed yet. Both parties are expected to provide more information in separate statements scheduled for Tuesday.
The conflict between GDL and Deutsche Bahn has been ongoing for months, with the union calling for reduced working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week without a decrease in pay. This demand was a major point of contention throughout the negotiations.
While some smaller private operators that run regional services had agreed to the reduced working hours, Deutsche Bahn had initially resisted the change. The dispute led to multiple strikes by train drivers, causing significant disruptions to rail services.
This conflict was part of a broader trend of pay disputes in the transportation sector in Germany. Other recent disputes have involved local transport workers, ground staff, cabin crew at Lufthansa, and airport security personnel.
With the resolution of the dispute between GDL and Deutsche Bahn, it remains to be seen how the issue of working hours and pay has been addressed in the final agreement. Both parties are expected to provide more clarity on the terms of the deal in their upcoming statements.
