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German train drivers walk out
By
G. Dunkel
Published Nov 29, 2007 12:25 AM
German train drivers have been conducting a series of one- and two-day strikes
to force Deutsche Bahn, the German state-owned railroad company, to recognize
their new union and give them a significant raise.
The drivers’ schedules vary from day to day. Their work week often
stretches to 55 hours. Although they do skilled work and are responsible for
keeping hundreds, if not thousands, of people safe, they make less than $2,200
a month. This salary is about 30 percent lower than the going wage in other
European countries.
The most recent strike ended early on Nov. 17 after shutting down freight
service for 62 hours and passenger transportation for 48 hours. It clogged the
port of Hamburg and stopped production at some auto plants. Eastern Germany was
more affected than the western part of the country. DB claimed the strike would
cost it more than $700 million if it lasted a week.
Manfred Schell, head of the GDL, the union that organized the strikes, said he
was “very happy” with the action and was expecting an offer from
the company. On Nov. 18 the union issued a news release stating that if DB
didn’t improve its offer, the workers would go out on an unlimited
strike.
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
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