After months of negotiations between the German Machinists’ Union (GDL) and the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) regarding employee subsidies and working hours came to a deadlock, drivers decided to strike for a second time in January. The strike, which is expected to last until Monday evening, immediately caused significant disruptions in railway transportation. The daily financial losses in freight transportation alone are said to reach 100 million euros.
GDL is primarily demanding that the weekly working hours of shift workers be reduced from 38 hours to 35 hours at full wage. Meanwhile, the union is demanding an inflation compensation bonus of 555 euros per month, in addition to a reduction in working hours.