News Digest

Millions in Germany stranded as railway starts biggest strike since 2008

Millions of passengers were left stranded across Germany on Saturday after train drivers began a 50-hour strike that halted two thirds of long-distance trains in a dispute over pay and negotiation rights. The two-day strike began after their union rejected a new pay offer in a bitter dispute complicated by rivalry between unions. The GDL union called members out on strike from early Saturday morning until early Monday morning, its second walkout this week.

This scale of strike action at such short notice is completely irresponsible and borders on the irrational.

Ulrich Weber, head of personnel at Deutsche Bahn to Bild daily

GDL wants a 5 per cent pay increase and shorter working hours. A bigger sticking point is its demand to negotiate for other staff traditionally represented by a rival union. National railway Deutsche Bahn says it offered a raise of 5 per cent over 30 months on Friday for the drivers but won’t accept rival pay deals for other employees. GDL rejected what it called a “sham offer.”