The strike of Deutsche Bahn (DB) freight train drivers started at 5:00 pm Wednesday, and it had immediate consequences for both domestic and international freight trains.
On Thursday night, from 02:00 a.m. onwards, passenger traffic is also expected to be largely paralyzed.
The standstills are expected to last until September 7th.
Protest endangers economic recovery – warn wholesale and chemical industry
The renewed interruption of the already extremely tense supply chains endangered the economic recovery, warned the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, reports German logistics portal Verkehrs Rundschau.
“Time-critical goods will only be able to be transported by truck despite the tight loading space, ”explained the association’s traffic expert, Carsten Taucke.
The strike is now also delaying delivery to customers in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry, added the Association of the Chemical Industry. As the spokesperson explains, for many substances, the train is the best means of transport, as the rail route is usually the most suitable for some chemicals.
Deutsche Bahn should provide a decent pay rise
Private companies such as Transdev, Netinera and Go-Ahead have recently concluded collective agreements with the GDL, explains the union.
Although these companies were also affected by the corona pandemic, they did provided a 1.4 percent wage increase in 2021 and a 600 euro corona bonus, as well as, a 1.8 percent wage increase in 2022 with a term of 28 months for all professions in the rail system.
“DB should take this as an example. ”said GDL Federal Chairman Claus Weselsky.