Information and Consultation with Central Management pursuant to Section 32 of the German European Works Council Act

The issues addressed by the speakers on behalf of the employer were above all the economic situation of the DG Group, corresponding staffing developments and the impact of the economic crisis on the transport and logistics sector.

There was discussion in particular about the national cost savings programmes and the extensive manpower cutbacks in various countries. The EWC queried the need for redundancies given the still positive economic figures within the Group. It asked the employer to check to what extent employees of the DB Group facing the loss of their jobs could be accommodated in other national companies of the DB Group.  

Last autumn already, cutbacks were introduced as an immediate measure in some European countries. Altogether approximately 900 jobs have been cut back up to now.

While the members of the EWC accept the need for measures to react to the economic crisis, they expect DB AG to find other alternatives to pure manpower cutbacks. The next EWC meeting should discuss the possibilities of national job markets. This refers to solutions for protecting jobs according to the Group-wide job market in Germany. 

Reports from the EWC working groups

a)                 Transportation and Logistics Working Group

The main issues of the working group featured the impacts of the economic crisis on DB Schenker Rail and DB Schenker Logistics. In some countries, revenues have fallen by up to 25%.

Other topics included acquisition of the Polish PCC with approx. 5,600 employees (subject to approval under the competition laws), the X-Rail project, problem with the management of DB Schenker Rail Scandinavia and the management of DB Schenker Rail UK and the support of the new British member of the EWC.

b)                 Passenger Transport Working Group

The main issue was the failure of negotiations between the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) and the Community of European Railways (CER) to revise the EU Directive on working conditions of mobile workers engaged in interoperable cross-border services. It was not possible to achieve agreement particularly regarding rest periods away from home and accommodation. 

Miscellaneous

The EWC has now been joined by representatives for the employees of the DB Group in the United Kingdom (represented by Mick Finn, DB Schenker Rail UK) and Luxembourg (represented by Andrea Greweling, Schenker Luxemburg GmbH). 

The next EWC meeting will take place in Berlin from 20 to 22 October 2009.