German Strikes Cause Major Disruptions

BERLIN – Striking train drivers brought parts of Germany’s rail network to a standstill on Tuesday, backing their demands for a large pay increase with a walkout that affected tens of thousands of commuters.

The GDL union, which represents many of Deutsche Bahn AG’s drivers, launched a four-hour walkout at 5 a.m. local time. That came on top of strikes by members of two other unions in a separate wage dispute with the company.

Deutsche Bahn said the walkouts caused “massive” disruption across the country and delays likely would last into the evening.

The strike brought many trains, ranging from local to high-speed services, to a halt. The railway operator said tens of thousands of commuters nationwide were affected.

GDL is seeking wage increases of up to 31 percent for some of its members and a separate wage deal with Deutsche Bahn for train drivers. The union says the drivers earn about $2,000 per month after taxes, which it describes as inadequate.

GDL chief Manfred Schell said that “further action will follow” if Deutsche Bahn refuses to open negotiations. He said the union would give 24 hours warning of any more strikes.

However, Deutsche Bahn spokesman Achim Stauss said on ZDF television that the union’s pay demands were “absurdly high.”

The two other unions, GDBA and Transnet, which represent a broader range of railway employees, launched their own campaign of limited walkouts on Monday.

They have called for wage increases of up to 7 percent for some 134,000 employees, citing healthy company earnings, and have rejected a more modest offer last week from Deutsche Bahn.

The company is offering a 2-percent increase next January, followed by another 2 percent in July 2009, and one-time extra payments of $400 to cover the rest of this year.