Deutsche Bahn and the GDL reached a compromise in their tariff talks without any strike action. Both parties will present the details of the agreement on Friday morning, effectively putting the threat of warning strikes at the railway company on hold for the coming months.
This round of negotiations is the first since 2018 to conclude without a strike. The 2018 talks were led by former GDL chief Claus Weselsky; the current round is the first under GDL’s new national chairman, Mario Reiß. Negotiations began in January after the existing contract expired at the end of December. Five rounds were scheduled, and a peace clause was in effect until the end of February, preventing the GDL from calling for industrial action.
On February 10, Deutsche Bahn made its initial offer, proposing a two‑stage wage and salary increase of 3.8 percent. An additional 2.2 percent rise was planned to come from adjustments in the tariff system, including a wage level that the GDL had demanded. The offer also included a one‑time payment of €400.
Key points of disagreement involved the length of the contract and the tariff‑unity law. The employer side wanted a 30‑month contract, while the GDL sought only 12 months. The tariff‑unity law stipulates that, in a given company, only the tariff agreements of the employer representation that holds the majority of members can be applied.
