A year and a half after he stepped down, former GDL chief Claus Weselsky has expressed frustration with the union’s diminished media presence. “The GDL is no longer talked about as much; nobody is being promoted individually, only the whole team” he told “Stern”. “I think it would be better if it were different”.
During the last round of negotiations in February between the railway operator and the GDL, which ended in a deal without strikes, his successor Mario Reiß described the outcome as “excellent”. Still, Weselsky feels the union is not getting enough coverage. “Back when I was the face of the GDL, people saw my name everywhere. It doesn’t have to be Reiß’s name, but the GDL needs to be more visible to the public. In terms of self‑promotion the union simply isn’t where I would like it to be”.
He also criticised the current political debates on working hours. As the union’s leader from 2008 to 2024, Weselsky was known for his combative stance and had fought for the phased introduction of a 35‑hour week. “Now everyone is just talking about working even more” he said. “Chancellor Merz claims that all part‑timers are lazy” Weselsky added, calling the remark “subterranean and completely off‑target”.
Like the Chancellor, Weselsky is a member of the CDU. Despite his advocacy for shorter workweeks, he still works three days a week in retirement. He is a board member of a cooperative founded by GDL members and serves as deputy federal chair of the German Civil Servants’ Union. “I feel needed” he noted.
During his remaining free time he practices yoga and attends lessons with a teacher once a week. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, teaching them life skills. “I see the younger generation as more of a collective of softies” he commented.