German farmers and train drivers are causing concern among the country’s employers.
In Germany, where workers and employers often run companies together, a large-scale strike is uncommon. A wave of major strikes is almost unheard of. Currently, the country known for ”co-determination” is simultaneously facing an eight-day “action week” by angry farmers, who have blocked roads with tractors, a three-day strike by railway workers, and a looming strike by doctors, who have already closed their practices between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This group, referred to by some as the “Mistgabelmop” (pitchfork mob), will test Germany’s harmonious labor relations in the coming year.
The protests were triggered by the government’s decision to end subsidies for diesel fuel used in agriculture and to eliminate the exemption from car tax for farm vehicles. These measures pushed farmers to their breaking point. They also mobilized other disgruntled workers who are already struggling with inflation, recession, and the government’s self-imposed austerity measures. On January 9th, drivers of freight and passenger trains at Deutsche Bahn, the national railway, began a strike over working hours and pay.
In an attempt to ease tensions with the farmers, the government agreed to gradually phase out the diesel subsidy over three years and to maintain the exemption from car tax. However, the farmers dismissed these concessions as insufficient. On January 4th, an aggressive group of farmers prevented Robert Habeck, the economy minister, from disembarking from a ferry upon his return from a family vacation. If the train drivers are similarly unimpressed, it could prove costly for German businesses, according to IW Köln, a think-tank. The rail strike could cost businesses €100m ($110m) per day if it forces them to halt production. Germany’s largest industries, such as automotive, chemical, and steel, heavily rely on rail transportation.
2024-01-11 08:57:26
Article from www.economist.com
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