The rail union EVG is threatening a nationwide safety strike across regional rail services if the government fails to pass a crucial legislation this year. This threat comes following a fatal attack on a train attendant, Serkan Calar.
Martin Burkert, the EVG union chief, told “Bild am Sonntag” that the promised law aiming for harsher penalties against those who attack railway staff must be submitted to the Bundestag (German Parliament) within the current year. Otherwise, the union will paralyze operations starting in January.
Burkert expressed deep disappointment with the sitting government, criticizing their inaction. He noted that while politicians offered sympathy and grand statements after a train attendant’s death six months ago, no concrete action was taken. He accused the government of “work refusal,” stating that railway workers previously paid for the political shortcomings with their health or, ultimately, their lives.
The federal government had previously alluded to including railway employees as a particularly threatened professional group within a draft law put forward by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD), during a railway safety summit in February. This proposed legislation aimed to intensify penalties for attacks on paramedics, firefighters, doctors, and nurses. Among the provisions, the draft suggested doubling the minimum prison sentence for such attacks from three to six months.
However, if the bill, expanded to include rail staff, is not introduced to the Bundestag by year-end, EVG operational committees intend to refuse approval for December and January duty rosters at DB Regio and private regional railway operators. This action would prevent staff in regional transport from reporting for shifts nationwide, affecting millions of commuters.
Ralf Damde, Chairman of the Overall Works Council at DB Regio, stated to “Bild am Sonntag”, “It is enough. Statistically, eight colleagues are attacked in service every day. No one knows before their shift whether they will go home healthy. If the law continues to gather dust in the ministry, we, as works councils, will refuse approval to the duty rosters. Political paralysis will then turn into rail paralysis.”
The newspaper reported that the draft law is still undergoing internal governmental consultation, citing a Ministry of Justice spokesperson. The minister’s office declined to comment on the final outcome but stressed the goal of having the Bundestag deliberate and potentially pass the bill this year. The ministry spokesperson did not confirm whether train attendants would be included in the legislative draft.
