Sicherheit für Zugbegleiter: Bahngewerkschaft droht mit bundesweiten Streiks ab Januar

The railworkers' union EVG has threatened nationwide strikes in regional transport if the federal government does not soon increase punishments for attacks on train personnel. EVG's chief Martin Burkert told Bild am Sonntag, "The promised law for harsher penalties for attacks on train staff must still be introduced into the Bundestag this year, otherwise we will cripple operations in January."

Burkert said, "A train attendant was killed while on duty half a year ago, and despite politicians' words, no action has been taken. The government is engaging in work avoidance, and railway workers are paying for it with their health or even their lives." Burkert added, "Politicians forgot Serkan." The deadly assault on train attendant Serkan Çalar at the beginning of February involved a passenger who seriously injured him, and he later received a ten-year prison sentence.

Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) recently emphasized that "Safety in trains is not a peripheral issue. It is a prerequisite for a functioning public transport system." Bilger announced government discussions to ensure higher penalties for attacks on train personnel, similar to those for rescue workers. Ralf Damde, chairman of the General Works Council at DB Regio, said to Bild am Sonntag, "That's enough!

Statistically, eight colleagues are attacked while on duty daily. No one knows if they will return healthy after their shift. When the law continues to be a dead letter in the ministry, we as works councilors will refuse to approve the shift schedules. The political inaction will then lead to a train strike."