Overview
- Deutsche Bahn and the GDL began a new bargaining round in Berlin under a peace obligation that rules out strikes until the end of February, with 14 negotiation days scheduled and no initial DB offer.
- Mario Reiß is leading his first GDL round after Claus Weselsky, signaling a more constructive tone while representing roughly 10,000 DB workers covered by GDL contracts.
- The union’s package targets a 12‑month term with a 3.8 percent table increase, higher allowances, a new pay grade, and improvements for trainers and examiners, plus travel and housing supplements.
- Both sides indicate escalation could follow if no deal is reached after the truce, including a member ballot and potential open‑ended strikes from March, with mediation also floated in some reports.
- In parallel public‑sector talks, ver.di and allies are staging warning strikes next week in multiple states, including Berlin, Bremen, Niedersachsen and NRW hospitals, seeking 7 percent or at least €300 monthly, as a separate bus dispute in Rheinland‑Pfalz was settled with 10.5 percent over two steps plus a €500 payment through 2027.