(The following article is from the Associated Press.)
BERLIN — Striking railroad workers caused the delay or cancelation of about 1,000 trains across Germany early Thursday, stepping up the pressure on rail operator Deutsche Bahn as it restarts pay talks with labor unions.
Deutsche Bahn said some 850 passenger trains as well as150 goods trains were affected when train engineerswalked off the job for about 45 minutes. Commuter trafficwas badly hit in the southern cities of Munich, Stuttgartand Nuremberg as well as Berlin and Rostock in the north,it said.
Another 100 workers, including ticket sales staff, held ashort strike at Berlin’s main Zoo station, unions said. Railstaff handed out free coffee to delayed passengers.
The strike was the most extensive since workers began aseries of short stoppages at the weekend and coincidedwith new pay negotiations between rail and union officialsin Berlin.
The main rail unions Transnet and GDBA, which heldstrikes earlier this week, are seeking a 5 percent payincrease for the country’s 160,000 rail workers. ButDeutsche Bahn has so far offered only 1.3 percent, alongwith steps to bring wages in the former communist east intoline with those in the west and bonus payments whenearnings improve.
Deutsche Bahn personnel chief Norbert Bensel told ZDF television that the company would make a “fair offer” in Thursday’s talks, but added that money was tight as the company was in “a terribly difficult economic position.”
The company, which is in the middle of an efficiency drive to make it fit for possible privatization, has warned that a big pay rise could force it to lay off more staff.
Train engineers union GdL is seeking a separate wage contract with a 3 percent wage increase — a more moderate position that is drawing criticism from the main unions.
Union leaders have threatened to ballot members on intensified strike action if Thursday’s talks fail to produce an agreement.
The unions also have called for a big demonstration in Berlin on March 14.