Collective agreement on the train: Warnstreik averted until 2026!

Collective agreement on the train: Warnstreik averted until 2026!

The Deutsche Bahn and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) agreed on February 16, 2025 a new collective agreement for around 192,000 employees. This agreement was achieved without the warning strikes threatened by the EVG, which are now possible in March 2026 at the earliest. On this day, details about the agreement were also published that represent a positive turn for the two parties.

The negotiations have been running since Wednesday and the EVG previously made demands of 7.6 percent more income and 2.6 percent additional remuneration for shift workers. Part of the required additional money should be able to be converted into days off. In addition, the EVG requested an employment guarantee by the end of 2027. The current collective agreement applies until the end of March 2025. A possible agreement without warning strikes is an exception, since the last time such an agreement took place in 2016.

corporate strategies and economic framework conditions

Deutsche Bahn itself is aiming for a long term of the new collective agreement to ensure the planning security necessary for the renovation of the company. One central goal of the company is to increase the punctuality of long -distance trains to 75 to 80 percent by 2027; In 2024, this value was only 62.5 percent. By 2030, the railway also plans to fundamentally renovate 41 heavily used corridors. The subsidiaries DB Cargo and long -distance transport are to be rewritten again this year. However, the freight daughter Cargo faces challenges because around 5,000 jobs are to be eliminated by 2029.

The agreement between Deutsche Bahn and the EVG could also be considered in the light of other upcoming collective bargaining in the public service. Unions require improvements associated with this in public service, such as more money, leisure and better handling of overtime. There are currently around 500,000 vacant positions in the public service, which increases the requirements for employers. Forecasts point out that the situation could further tighten in the coming years.

Current requirements and reactions

As part of the upcoming collective bargaining, unions require a wage increase of 8 percent or at least 350 euros more per month for both municipal employees and federal employees. However, employers, represented by the association of the municipal employers 'associations (VKA), see the financial claims unrealistic and warn of restrictions on important services such as daycare centers or citizens' offices. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasizes the need for fair negotiations, but points out the tense budget situation.

The first negotiations within the framework of these tariff interdependencies took place in January 2025 without a result being achieved. Further negotiation dates stand for the 17th/18th February 2025 and March 16 to 16, 2025. The threat of warning strikes in the public service is also in the room after the failed negotiations, with possible restrictions in the operating process.

For more details for the agreement between Deutsche Bahn and the EVG, you can report the reports on rosenheim24 and SEULL read. Information on the collective bargaining in the public service is on ​​Kommunal.de