GDL calls fresh Saarbahn strike, halting S1 line service

The Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer (GDL) announced a new warning strike at the Saarbahn, set to begin at 17:00 on Thursday, 9 July. The strike will stop all traffic on the S1 line between Lebach and Saargemünd, with no end date disclosed. GDL says the action is driven by a stalled collective‑bargaining process: the Saarbahn has not presented a negotiable offer and allegedly cancelled a planned negotiation session at the end of June. The union also accuses the employer of “tariff escape” and of using the tariff unity law to undermine GDL’s bargaining position.

Earlier GDL actions had already led to partial service disruptions and the implementation of replacement bus services during the Saarbrücken Altstadtfest. The union stresses that its members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike and that the dispute concerns the demand for a performance‑based collective agreement comparable to other municipal employers.