Tweet

The most powerful economy in Europe is faced with a proliferation of tough strikes. These work stoppages affect the most emblematic sectors: the Train with Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Air Transport with Lufthansa but also the Postal sector with Deutsche Post. In 2014, Germany lost nearly 395,000 working days. The country has faced the longest train strike in its history. The drivers´ union GDL - approx. 3000 people. DB employs a workforce of 196,000 in Germany - puts pressure on the economy and exasperates the rail users. DB transports a fifth of Germany's freight - over 620,000 tons - and carries about 5.5 million passengers, each day. German businesses and industry estimate that these strike actions could cost the country's economy more than € 500 million. It should be pointed out that GDL negotiators want a 5% pay rise and a 37 hour working week rather than the current 39. For their part, Lufthansa pilots are fighting a plan by the airline to increase the age at which pilots can take early retirement and also to involve pilots in the financing of their pensions.The pilots are currently able to retire at 55 and receive up to 60% of their pay until the normal pension kicks at the age of 65. Today, Germany where labour relations have always been based more on consensus than on confrontation is showing signs of deteriorating social climate. It is true, but in fact not particularly worrying. Indeed, this situation mainly reflects the improvement of the economy which pushes trade unions to claim their fair share of the country's economic growth. Paradoxically, strikes in Germany can be seen as a sign of good economic health.

Tweet