German railway union boss defends strike, as Scholz hopes for deal

DPA
·1 min read
Claus Weselsky, Chairman of the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), speaks at a press conference of the train drivers' union GDL on the upcoming six-day strike at Deutsche Bahn. The strike is scheduled to begin on 24 January for passenger services. Christoph Soeder/dpa
Claus Weselsky, Chairman of the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), speaks at a press conference of the train drivers' union GDL on the upcoming six-day strike at Deutsche Bahn. The strike is scheduled to begin on 24 January for passenger services. Christoph Soeder/dpa
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The leader of Germany's train drivers' union GDL defended the looming six-day strike against national railway Deutsche Bahn (DB) as both legal and proportionate, given what he described as unsatisfactory offers from the railway.

"We can read. We know what is written there. And it is not a basis for entering into negotiations with DB," labour leader Claus Weselsky said of the railway's latest off to train drivers.

The strike, which will begin on Wednesday, is expected to cause massive disruptions to rail travel in Germany.

Weselsky also expressed confidence that any attempt by Deutsche Bahn to block the strike in court would fail.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed hope on Monday for a quick settlement to the wage dispute between state-owned railway Deutsche Bahn and the GDL union, and maintained his call for an amicable agreement.

But a spokesman for Scholz stressed that the chancellor would not interfere in the labour fight and respects the autonomy of collective bargaining in Germany.