According to the agreement, employees will receive a total of 6.5 per cent more money in several stages over almost three years. Shift workers will receive an additional pay rise. The collective agreement will run for 33 months until December 2027. During that time, employees will also have protection against dismissal.
"This is a balanced agreement that does justice to both sides during a difficult phase for the company. The very long term gives us the planning security we urgently need for the successful restructuring of the railways," said DB Chief Human Resources Officer Martin Seiler after the end of the five-day marathon negotiations.
"Our colleagues will receive an additional €455 to €850 on average every year in future; for shift workers, the amount can be between €1,365 and €2,550, depending on the job," added EVG co-lead negotiator Cosima Ingenschay.
The collective agreement in a nutshell:
- 6.5 per cent more money over almost three years: 2 per cent more from July 2025, 2.5 per cent more from July 2026; 2 per cent additional collectively agreed allowance from December 2027 (as an annual one-off payment)
- 33-month term (1 April 2025 to 31 December 2027)
- Job security for the duration of the agreement
- One-off payment of €200: in April 2025
- 2.6 per cent additional collectively agreed bonus for employees working shifts only:
- as a one-off annual payment from December 2026; possibility of partial conversion into two days off from 2027
- New working time system rewards commitment and improves personnel capacity
- Opt-out clause for DB Cargo: deviations from collective agreement provisions are permissible if necessary as part of the restructuring plan
