German train drivers joined on Thursday the freight drivers’
strike which began on Wednesday.
German train drivers’ union GDL extended the strike at 2 a,m.
on Thursday morning. One third of all service on long distance trains has been
suspended.
Commuters turned to local trams, buses and cars to get to
work, thus leading to traffic jams.
Deutsche Bahn deployed 500 buses in order to replace trains
on some of the routes, CNN reports.
At Berlin’s
main train station the board was showing delays or no service at all.
ICE inter-city services, high-speed trains and
freight trains were affected.
The strike began on Wednesday, when GDL train drivers’ union
demanded from Deutsche Bahn a separate wage deal, different from the other two
train unions and a 30 percent pay rise.
On account that the other two unions are satisfied with the 4.5
percent pay rise, Deutsche Bahn refused to reach an agreement.
This is the biggest strike so far in seven months since the
dispute began.
The strike began on Wednesday with freight trains and on
Thursday it extended to passenger trains. The union said that if the demands
are not met it could go on with open-ended strikes.
It is expected for the strike to last 62 hours before it
ends at 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Still, a GDL spokesman said that the strike could go on
until Christmas.
Hans-Joachim Kernschen, the union’s district leader in Berlin, warned: “We can
hold out for a long time.”
GDL chief Manfred Schell said on Thursday that Deutsche Bahn
has time until Monday to come with a viable deal. He also accused Deutsche Bahn
for being unwilling to compromise, by refusing to negotiate.
On the other hand Deutsche Bahn board member Rausch said
that the company was negotiating and that it appeared that GDL tries to make
the company capitulate.
He said: “They won’t succeed,” adding that Deutsche Bahn could
take the pressure for a long time.
If the strike continues analysts say that it could cost
the economy up to €50 million ($73.3 million) per day, Reuters reports.
