No Progress in German Rail Strike
Oct 19th, 2007, 01:50 PM
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No Progress in German Rail Strike
With strikes and threats of strikes in France, Italy, and Germany, labor unrest in rail transportation seems to persist.
In Germany, no resolution to the dispute is in sight. An article I saw today said both sides remain adamant and rigid in their long-held positions. The locomotive drivers (GDL) want a big pay raise AND recognition as a separate union. The Rail Executives keep saying "No way."
If you have plans to visit to Germany, bear in mind that international trains are not the ones at risk; it is the local traffic that is the primary target when strikes occur. Both commuter trains and S-Bahn lines around the major cities are subject to the walkouts. Sometimes these work stoppages have been announced and sometimes they have not.
Third party force sufficient to break the deadlock is not yet in the picture. Despite the fact that mediation in August failed to make progress, the minister of transportation, Tiefensee, says that the Ministry of Tranportation is not going to intervene.
For the near term, there will be no strikes this weekend, but Monday may see a different situation.
If the government does not become involved and neither side will budge from its current position, I do not see a way to make progress.
Currently, the union seems to be walking a fine line between enraging public opinion and putting pressure on the management of Die Deutsche Bahn through sporadic strikes in the morning hours when people need to get to work.
The questions now seem to me to be these: 1. How much of a strike is the locomotive drivers' union willing to call to force the issue? The strikes so far have not had much effect in resolving the issue. 2. How long will the senior management of Die Bahn tolerate irregular local rail service? The strikes cost the rail company through lost revenues. What is the limit? 3. How long will the situation linger with sporadic strikes and no change of position?
4. At what point will the German voters get tired of the invonvenience and begin making a political issue out of it?
So far the GDL leadership has been reluctant to strike for periods longer than one or two days and for the greater part no prolonged strike against the freight trains has been imposed. As I see it, a total strike of all freight trains would get drastic results. Such an extreme measure not yet been taken, and I think the union is somewhat fearful of the repercussions caused by such a move.
Being unfamiliar with German labor disputes, I wonder about the long term strategy of both sides. What will it take to make one side yield?
The union has a good sized war chest to continue the salaries of the striking union members, but the fund is not bottomless. Is the strategy of management to gradually whittle away the GDL's cash reserve position by attrition and thereby force capitulation?
In terms of lost revenue, it seems to me that die Bahn would "whittle away" faster than the union.
Who knows? I don't.
In Germany, no resolution to the dispute is in sight. An article I saw today said both sides remain adamant and rigid in their long-held positions. The locomotive drivers (GDL) want a big pay raise AND recognition as a separate union. The Rail Executives keep saying "No way."
If you have plans to visit to Germany, bear in mind that international trains are not the ones at risk; it is the local traffic that is the primary target when strikes occur. Both commuter trains and S-Bahn lines around the major cities are subject to the walkouts. Sometimes these work stoppages have been announced and sometimes they have not.
Third party force sufficient to break the deadlock is not yet in the picture. Despite the fact that mediation in August failed to make progress, the minister of transportation, Tiefensee, says that the Ministry of Tranportation is not going to intervene.
For the near term, there will be no strikes this weekend, but Monday may see a different situation.
If the government does not become involved and neither side will budge from its current position, I do not see a way to make progress.
Currently, the union seems to be walking a fine line between enraging public opinion and putting pressure on the management of Die Deutsche Bahn through sporadic strikes in the morning hours when people need to get to work.
The questions now seem to me to be these: 1. How much of a strike is the locomotive drivers' union willing to call to force the issue? The strikes so far have not had much effect in resolving the issue. 2. How long will the senior management of Die Bahn tolerate irregular local rail service? The strikes cost the rail company through lost revenues. What is the limit? 3. How long will the situation linger with sporadic strikes and no change of position?
4. At what point will the German voters get tired of the invonvenience and begin making a political issue out of it?
So far the GDL leadership has been reluctant to strike for periods longer than one or two days and for the greater part no prolonged strike against the freight trains has been imposed. As I see it, a total strike of all freight trains would get drastic results. Such an extreme measure not yet been taken, and I think the union is somewhat fearful of the repercussions caused by such a move.
Being unfamiliar with German labor disputes, I wonder about the long term strategy of both sides. What will it take to make one side yield?
The union has a good sized war chest to continue the salaries of the striking union members, but the fund is not bottomless. Is the strategy of management to gradually whittle away the GDL's cash reserve position by attrition and thereby force capitulation?
In terms of lost revenue, it seems to me that die Bahn would "whittle away" faster than the union.
Who knows? I don't.
Oct 19th, 2007, 07:19 PM
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Ever increasing ticket prices, almost 10% per year. Ridiculously low wages for the employees. A management with the sole goal to "increase efficiency" in order to sell everything to private investors. A company that was paid by tax Euros/Marks and belongs to the public from which it will be stolen and sold. The union has my and I believe the support of most people. If the result of the strike will mean at least the tracks and stations remain public property we'll have won.
Oct 19th, 2007, 07:42 PM
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Oct 20th, 2007, 06:08 AM
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For the last couple of years, my wife has suggested that we visit England as well as Germany. I have tried to research it, but train service there is a confusing puzzle to me. It seems that they privatized their railroads. Some routes were found to be unprofitable so big holes developed in the overall system. Plus pricing is a marketing ploy. It varies by day, by season by the hour, by whatever.
I am reluctant to visit a country that speaks a common language (well almost) because it is too confusing to use public transportation. I can only hope that is not the example that Germany wishes to follow.
Regards, Gary
I am reluctant to visit a country that speaks a common language (well almost) because it is too confusing to use public transportation. I can only hope that is not the example that Germany wishes to follow.
Regards, Gary
Oct 20th, 2007, 06:19 AM
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>I can only hope that is not the example that Germany wishes to follow.
While I am absolutely sure that Germany will make mistakes in this regard, and possibly grave ones as well, I can ensure you that they will be different from those UK made.
No, seriously, even the most radical plans for railway privatizing consist of selling off 49% of the stock, so that the controlling stock of 51% remains in public hands. Selling off entire chunks of the network to anybody with the necessary small change, like J. Major did, is thankfully not on the cards.
While I am absolutely sure that Germany will make mistakes in this regard, and possibly grave ones as well, I can ensure you that they will be different from those UK made.
No, seriously, even the most radical plans for railway privatizing consist of selling off 49% of the stock, so that the controlling stock of 51% remains in public hands. Selling off entire chunks of the network to anybody with the necessary small change, like J. Major did, is thankfully not on the cards.
