German union calls on train drivers to strike this week in a rancorous pay dispute

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A union representing German train drivers says it is calling its members out on a 20-hour strike later this week as a rancorous round of pay negotiations with the country’s main rail operator gets under way

BERLIN — A labor union representing German train drivers said Tuesday that it's calling its members out on a 20-hour strike later this week as a bitter round of pay negotiations with the country's main rail operator gets under way.

The GDL union called on drivers, guards and others with Germany’s state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn to walk off the job from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Thursday. Limited “warning strikes” are a common tactic in German pay negotiations.

Deutsche Bahn has in the past run much-reduced services during GDL strikes.

GDL is seeking a raise of 555 euros ($593) per month for employees plus a payment of up to 3,000 euros ($3,257) to counter inflation. It also is calling for working hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 hours per week without a pay reduction.

Negotiations started last week and are scheduled to resume on Thursday. Deutsche Bahn said it has made an offer that amounts to an 11% raise. Deutsche Bahn personnel chief Martin Seiler said in a statement that the GDL leadership “is now showing its true face — it was never interested in solutions.”

GDL accused Deutsche Bahn of having made clear that it wasn't prepared to discuss its core demands.

Earlier this year, negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and a bigger rail workers' union, EVG — a bitter rival of the traditionally more aggressive GDL — went to arbitration.

In that dispute, both sides accepted arbitrators' proposal of a pay increase of 410 euros per month in two stages as part of a deal valid for 25 months. It also featured a