Overview
- Existing collective agreements for about 10,000 Deutsche Bahn employees expire on December 31, 2025.
- Formal negotiations begin on January 8, 2026 within a peace period that bars strikes until February 28, with DB citing five sessions and other reporting noting 14 negotiating days planned.
- The GDL is seeking a 3.8% pay increase, an 8% rise in allowances, an additional pay grade, and higher compensation for trainers and examiners, plus travel-cost reimbursement and a higher rent subsidy.
- If no agreement is reached by the end of the peace period, strikes could follow that affect local, regional, and long-distance services.
- The union side will be led by new GDL chief Mario Reiß, replacing longtime negotiator Claus Weselsky.