Deutsche Bahn Loses 2nd Suit vs Rail Drivers' Strike

Passengers on Germany's rail network will continue to face disruptions over the next few days after Deutsche Bahn failed on Friday in its second attempt to stop the five-day train drivers' strike by legal means, Christian Ebner reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Photo Insert: Deutsche Bahn's endeavors to put an end to the train drivers' strike legally has been a train failing to leave the station.

The Regional Labor Court in Frankfurt rejected a renewed application by Deutsche Bahn for an emergency injunction against the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) after the original application was thrown out on Thursday.

Had the injunction succeeded, the rail drivers' strike would be deemed illegal and the GDL would have been forced to return to work. However, despite losing its case, Deutsche Bahn justified going to court again due to the severe impact of the walkout.

"Because this strike is unspeakable, it is completely excessive - also in its length," Deutsche Bahn spokesperson Achim Stauss explained to public broadcaster ARD on Friday, adding that the GDL leadership urgently needed to give up its siege mentality.

The GDL showed no sign of wanting to return to negotiations on Friday, however. Its leader, Claus Weselsky, remained defiant when addressing the court on Friday: "We will not let anyone dictate to us when and for how long industrial action can go on," he said, adding that the strike was legal, permissible, and proportionate.

"We are very relieved that we got justice in a fair industrial dispute," Weselsky said. He said he was proud that the GDL's members were holding out, and said the union planned to continue the strike until 2 am Tuesday, as originally announced.

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