German train drivers set to begin 24-hour strike

BERLIN

German train drivers are set to begin a 24-hour strike on Thursday evening over an ongoing dispute with the national rail operator over wage and working conditions.

According to a statement by the German Train Drivers’ Union, the nationwide strike will begin at 10:00 p.m. local time (2100GMT) and will end at 10:00 p.m. local time on Friday.

The union’s leader Claus Weselsky sharply criticized railway operator Deutsche Bahn for not taking any steps towards a compromise since the latest round of negotiations failed last month.

“We will not now carry out this strike action on Thursday and Friday, and it will be the last one for this year,” he told public broadcaster MDR, but warned that there could be further strikes after Jan. 7.

Deutsche Bahn said almost 80% of the long-distance train services will be canceled due to the strike, and also warned of cancellations and delays in regional and local transport, especially in Berlin and Hamburg.

"Instead of negotiating and facing reality, the train drivers' union is striking for demands that cannot be met. This is absolutely unnecessary,” Martin Seiler, Deutsche Bahn’s human resources director, said in a statement.

The German Train Drivers’ 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 union is also demanding a reduction in working hours for shift workers, from 38 to 35 hours per week, with no reduction in pay.