German train drivers announce new strike dates

BERLIN

German train drivers announced Friday that they would hold strikes from Aug. 21 to 25 over a pay dispute with the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn.

Freight train drivers will stop work on Saturday at 5.00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), with passenger train drivers ceasing operations on Monday at 2.00 a.m. (0000 GMT).

The strike would end at 2.00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Wednesday, according to the train drivers’ union GDL.

Claus Weselsky, the leader of the GDL union, told a news conference in Berlin that Deutsche Bahn made no effort to resolve the ongoing dispute.

He said train drivers would be walking off the job for the second time this month, following their action between Aug. 10 and Aug. 13.

“They are going on strike to raise wages, to protect their pensions,” he stressed.

Deutsche Bahn has sharply criticized the union and said the strike would lead to a "completely unnecessary burden on customers".

The union of more than 37,000 members is demanding a 3.2% pay raise for train drivers and a one-time €600 ($700) bonus because of work during the coronavirus pandemic.