Train Strike Announced

The German train drivers' union, GDL, said on Thursday, Dec 20, that it would strike again on passenger and freight routes next month after pay talks with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn broke down.

Making the announcement at a news conference in Frankfurt, GDL boss Manfred Schell accused Deutsche Bahn of not moving "one jot" during negotiations.

"We will begin strikes from January 7 and will end them only when we feel we are on the way to an acceptable wage deal," said Schell whose 34,000-member union has rejected outside mediation.

Bahn and union at impasse

Talks broke down after the GDL demanded Deutsche Bahn recognize the union as the sole representative of the drivers. In response, the railway company cancelled all the offers it had put on the table up until Wednesday.

The federally owned rail company has insisted on negotiating driver pay with two bigger unions in collective bargaining.

"It was a big surprise when the talks were abruptly stopped by the GDL, there was no reason given," said Margaret Suckale, a Deutsche Bahn board member in a news conference.

"We want to do everything to avoid strikes and to prevent our customers from having to suffer," added Suckale.

Unmet demands

The drivers' union originally demanded a 31 percent pay hike but recently signalled that it would agree to a 10 percent increase.

Deutsche Bahn has reported that it has offered pay raises of 8 percent to 13 percent. The company's 195,000 other workers have already agreed to a 4.5 percent pay rise.

"We haven't progressed one little bit during the nine months of negotiations," said Schell in a statement. GDL feels its drivers are underpaid in comparison to drivers in other countries.

This strike will be the latest in a series of wallkouts to hit the German rail system. In November, a 62-hour strike cost the German economy an estimated 75 million euros ($110 million.).

German industry and the government of Angela Merkel have complained that continued strikes will endanger the country's economy.