MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - German train drivers are planning to launch a strike on Tuesday afternoon, demanding higher pay and reduction of working hours, ABC News reports.
"Train staff need protection from the excessive strain of overtime due to a lack of personnel and need better employment conditions, if need be through strikes," the GDL train drivers‘ union said in a statement cited by Reuters.
According to the news agency, the GDL is striving for a 5 percent salary increase for train drivers, cutting their working week from 39 hours to 37 hours and a more convenient timetable. The union is also working to nominate a representative to conduct negotiations for train guards and other railway workers, matters of which Deutsche Bahn has rejected.
Deutsche Bahn had suggested postponing the negotiations over the salary increase until the government had adopted a law on collective bargaining. However, German train drivers have declined the proposal.
Two similar strikes took place in Germany at the beginning of September, hitting railway infrastructure and undermining travel plans of numerous holidaymakers.
