German train drivers announce 20-hour strike amid pay dispute

BERLIN

German train drivers have announced that they will begin a 20-hour strike on Wednesday over an ongoing wage dispute with the national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn.

The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) said the strike will begin at 10 p.m. (2100GMT) on Wednesday and will end at 6 p.m. (1700GMT) on Thursday, adding that besides locomotive drivers, train attendants and other workers will also join the action.

The union is currently negotiating with Deutsche Bahn over pay raises, and demanding a salary increase of €555 ($600) per month, a one-off inflation compensation premium of up to €3,000 ($3,250).

“The employees are very dissatisfied, their concerns are legitimate,” union leader Claus Weselsky said in a statement, and urged the Deutsche Bahn management to accept their demands.

"Anyone who believes they can cynically play for time at the expense of the employees is mistaken. Now is the time to achieve improvements, there is no time to delay,” he said.

Deutsche Bahn has warned passengers that the strike will cause numerous cancellations and delays in long-distance and regional trains, and advised them to avoid unnecessary travel.