Train drivers' strike in Leipzig
It was stated in the media that the train drivers would probably strike after their agreement ended on 30th June. However, everyone sort of hopes it's not true, even if you hear about it.
It was on the radio even as Marcus dropped me off at the train station. When I got there, the people were really on strike, though from far away, the strikers sort of looked like football fans with their flags and everything.
I had no idea what a strike is like from close up. But thankfully, everything was peaceful and no one started getting violent or anything. I asked this lady if she was heading in the direction of Dresden and she said yes and said perhaps we should ask the strikers what was going on exactly. This one guy answered us and said it would probably last till 9am (from 5-9am) but they'd probably take a while to get all the trains going again. This other train driver asked where I was from and from then on, he kept talking to me and even bought me 2 coffees. I don't really drink coffee, but hey, when you wake up at 5am and have to wait till 9am, I think you'd want coffee too. He's one of those world traveller types..he's been to more countries than I can count on my hands and feet...he said the freedom to travel is one of the things he doesn't miss about the former GDR...but so what actually were they striking about? Well, better conditions because the laymen temp workers were getting paid the same amount as they were...of course the job agencies were the ones getting the bulk of the money and the temp workers not very much. Also, they were told to put in longer hours, if not they might lose their jobs. They were basically striking against their working conditions and not so much for money. This one PRC thought it was a terrorist attack but of course the strikers clarified that it wasn't.
I'm not taking a stand because trade unions are quite politicised also...but it was interesting to listen to their side of the story...there was this one guy, I dunno his name..some sports reporter or something with MDR who complained and complained about DB in general to the strikers, that the trains are old and disgusting, trains are late etc etc. This train driver said the complainer was previously a nobody and now that he's some semi-bigshot, he thinks he has the right to talk to people like that. Anyway, that the trains are not so new is not something the train drivers can help...it's decided by other people, so it made me realise that people often just want to find a scapegoat, someone they can blame...a tangible someone.
The train driver I hung around with told me that it was the socio-political issues that made them strike, late retirement, awful working hours. Usually the strikes only go on for 2 hours but this time it was for 4 hours. They were mostly men but there were a few women around too. It was basically 2 of the trade unions which accounted for about 90% of the train drivers that decided to strike...so there was basically just one single train, apart from Connex, that left the Leipzig Hauptbahnhof during the period of the strike because either the guy was a civil servant (not allowed to strike), belonged to the trade union that didn't strike, or didn't belong to a trade union. Though of course the ARD and press probably would've preferred it if that person was a "Streikbrecher" and didn't adhere to the strike.
Some BILD-Zeitung people were there too...and Radio people. The BILD people asked us a few questions. Honestly, I hope not to see my name in print because seriously, journalists hear what they want to hear and write accordingly...no matter what you really said.
Anyway, so we waited around till 9am and after about 15 minutes, the train to Dresden could leave. It was a real coincidence that it was the same driver who talked to me the whole time who drove the train...and he let me into the driver's room...I have no idea what it's called, whether in German or English...the engine?? I dunno. Anyway, I got to sit right in front and he tried to explain everything to me. And boy was it complicated. If people think trains run on autopilot, they must be dreaming. You have to pay attention to many things and change the speed every so often...and you have to watch the signals and lots of flashing lights mean all sorts of different things. I even got to close the train doors twice...haha...it's not much, but you really see a whole bunch of different things when you've got the full view of the tracks in front of you. It was quite exciting, even if I've travelled this route a million times.
I even asked him like how long it takes to brake when the train is travelling at normal speed...and if he saw someone if it was too late to brake. He said yes, although he's never ran anyone down before. But he said you have to bear in mind that these people want to commit suicide and there's really nothing the driver can do. I also asked if they could drive faster if there was a delay. He said on a lot of stretches, there are very strict limits because of bridges or construction sites and even on those without such strict limits, you can't go much faster, so you can't really catch up if there's a delay. He also said that high speed trains have something else that allow them to go faster, but I forgot what it's called. And if you try to go too fast on a stretch that has a e.g. 40 km/h limit, the train will just come to a standstill...and there's even this security thing that ensures nothing will happen if a train driver suddenly dies or falls asleep. Didn't really understand how it works but he said it was safe. So yes, many things are controlled automatically but you still have to pay attention to many things..so I guess you can't really do without train drivers.
Actually, I suppose I was calm and relaxed about the whole thing because apart from missing my morning class, I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. However, if I was on my way to Leipzig and this happened, I might've been more irritated. Maybe I just wasn't so keen to go back to Dresden. Oh, one important thing: the strikers were not unreasonable. All trains had to stop at a station so the people could get out and walk around. It wasn't like they were stuck in the middle of nowhere. But Leipzig is a good station to be stuck at. There are shops and restaurants there, so you won't really get bored.
Well, I must say it was really an interesting, hopefully once-in-a-lifetime experience because probably if I were rushing to work, this might not have been so fun. Heh heh.
It was stated in the media that the train drivers would probably strike after their agreement ended on 30th June. However, everyone sort of hopes it's not true, even if you hear about it.
It was on the radio even as Marcus dropped me off at the train station. When I got there, the people were really on strike, though from far away, the strikers sort of looked like football fans with their flags and everything.
I had no idea what a strike is like from close up. But thankfully, everything was peaceful and no one started getting violent or anything. I asked this lady if she was heading in the direction of Dresden and she said yes and said perhaps we should ask the strikers what was going on exactly. This one guy answered us and said it would probably last till 9am (from 5-9am) but they'd probably take a while to get all the trains going again. This other train driver asked where I was from and from then on, he kept talking to me and even bought me 2 coffees. I don't really drink coffee, but hey, when you wake up at 5am and have to wait till 9am, I think you'd want coffee too. He's one of those world traveller types..he's been to more countries than I can count on my hands and feet...he said the freedom to travel is one of the things he doesn't miss about the former GDR...but so what actually were they striking about? Well, better conditions because the laymen temp workers were getting paid the same amount as they were...of course the job agencies were the ones getting the bulk of the money and the temp workers not very much. Also, they were told to put in longer hours, if not they might lose their jobs. They were basically striking against their working conditions and not so much for money. This one PRC thought it was a terrorist attack but of course the strikers clarified that it wasn't.
I'm not taking a stand because trade unions are quite politicised also...but it was interesting to listen to their side of the story...there was this one guy, I dunno his name..some sports reporter or something with MDR who complained and complained about DB in general to the strikers, that the trains are old and disgusting, trains are late etc etc. This train driver said the complainer was previously a nobody and now that he's some semi-bigshot, he thinks he has the right to talk to people like that. Anyway, that the trains are not so new is not something the train drivers can help...it's decided by other people, so it made me realise that people often just want to find a scapegoat, someone they can blame...a tangible someone.
The train driver I hung around with told me that it was the socio-political issues that made them strike, late retirement, awful working hours. Usually the strikes only go on for 2 hours but this time it was for 4 hours. They were mostly men but there were a few women around too. It was basically 2 of the trade unions which accounted for about 90% of the train drivers that decided to strike...so there was basically just one single train, apart from Connex, that left the Leipzig Hauptbahnhof during the period of the strike because either the guy was a civil servant (not allowed to strike), belonged to the trade union that didn't strike, or didn't belong to a trade union. Though of course the ARD and press probably would've preferred it if that person was a "Streikbrecher" and didn't adhere to the strike.
Some BILD-Zeitung people were there too...and Radio people. The BILD people asked us a few questions. Honestly, I hope not to see my name in print because seriously, journalists hear what they want to hear and write accordingly...no matter what you really said.
Anyway, so we waited around till 9am and after about 15 minutes, the train to Dresden could leave. It was a real coincidence that it was the same driver who talked to me the whole time who drove the train...and he let me into the driver's room...I have no idea what it's called, whether in German or English...the engine?? I dunno. Anyway, I got to sit right in front and he tried to explain everything to me. And boy was it complicated. If people think trains run on autopilot, they must be dreaming. You have to pay attention to many things and change the speed every so often...and you have to watch the signals and lots of flashing lights mean all sorts of different things. I even got to close the train doors twice...haha...it's not much, but you really see a whole bunch of different things when you've got the full view of the tracks in front of you. It was quite exciting, even if I've travelled this route a million times.
I even asked him like how long it takes to brake when the train is travelling at normal speed...and if he saw someone if it was too late to brake. He said yes, although he's never ran anyone down before. But he said you have to bear in mind that these people want to commit suicide and there's really nothing the driver can do. I also asked if they could drive faster if there was a delay. He said on a lot of stretches, there are very strict limits because of bridges or construction sites and even on those without such strict limits, you can't go much faster, so you can't really catch up if there's a delay. He also said that high speed trains have something else that allow them to go faster, but I forgot what it's called. And if you try to go too fast on a stretch that has a e.g. 40 km/h limit, the train will just come to a standstill...and there's even this security thing that ensures nothing will happen if a train driver suddenly dies or falls asleep. Didn't really understand how it works but he said it was safe. So yes, many things are controlled automatically but you still have to pay attention to many things..so I guess you can't really do without train drivers.
Actually, I suppose I was calm and relaxed about the whole thing because apart from missing my morning class, I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. However, if I was on my way to Leipzig and this happened, I might've been more irritated. Maybe I just wasn't so keen to go back to Dresden. Oh, one important thing: the strikers were not unreasonable. All trains had to stop at a station so the people could get out and walk around. It wasn't like they were stuck in the middle of nowhere. But Leipzig is a good station to be stuck at. There are shops and restaurants there, so you won't really get bored.
Well, I must say it was really an interesting, hopefully once-in-a-lifetime experience because probably if I were rushing to work, this might not have been so fun. Heh heh.
posted by Samantha @ 12:09 pm
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