- Continuous GDL strikes to wear down City-Bahn
- That's why only buses are running over Whitsun, no trains - all information at www.city-bahn.de
- GDL boss rejects offer of talks and threatens to destroy the city railway
Chemnitz - City-Bahn Chemnitz will be running buses on important routes over Whitsun up to and including Tuesday. Due to ongoing strikes by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), regular rail services are currently out of the question. The core of the wage dispute is still the union's adherence to the 35-hour week with full pay compensation.
All bus connections that the City-Bahn has been able to organise so far are available on www.city-bahn.de.
City-Bahn Managing Director Friedbert Straube: "Unfortunately, trains will not be able to run over Whitsun. Mr Weselsky rejected an offer of talks from me. Instead, at a trade union demonstration and in media publications, he indirectly threatened to destroy the City-Bahn with its 200 jobs if I did not agree to his demands. Anyone who says something like that is no longer a negotiating partner for me. I expect more professionalism from the GDL and a different contact person."
Around 80 employees from the sector gathered for the union demonstration this morning, including around 40 from City-Bahn (total number of employees: around 200). There and in a media publication, Weselsky repeatedly compared the City-Bahn with the city of Troy, which in Greek mythology was destroyed after a siege lasting several years. He had also threatened to "grind down" the City-Bahn at a previous works event.
The GDL wants to end the current strike against the City-Bahn today at 1 pm. However, there is a threat of further short-term strikes over Whitsun. A regular rail operating programme is therefore out of the question, which is why City-Bahn is relying on stable bus services operated by other transport companies on its behalf.
With the suspension of the regular rail operating programme over Whitsun, City-Bahn Chemnitz will no longer report here on further calls for strikes and their termination until further notice.
Friedbert Straube: "The GDL bears responsibility for the current situation." Contact at the GDL is the central strike management. Tel.: 069-4057092125.
