Germany's Train Drivers To Strike For 3rd Time

Germany’s train drivers' union, the GDL, has announced a five-day strike starting later this week, the third and longest for rail customers so far this summer, Christian Ebner reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Photo Insert: Claus Weselsky, Chairman of the Union of German Locomotive Drivers eggs on strikers.

It will target Deutsche Bahn passenger services from 2 am on Thursday until Tuesday, September 7. In freight transport, the strike is to begin as early as Wednesday.

"It is one of the longest industrial actions we’ve taken and we are doing it intentionally," union leader Claus Weselsky said in Frankfurt on Monday.

"We don't see ourselves ready or willing to take shorter industrial action here, given the obstructionist attitude of Deutsche Bahn managers."

However, Weselsky stressed that indefinite strikes were not currently under discussion. The GDL is campaigning for higher pay and better working conditions for employees.

Critics say that in doing so, the GDL also wants to score points against the larger of Germany’s two railway unions, the Railway and Transport Union (EVG.) The industrial action will not only affect hundreds of thousands of commuters, but also many vacation travelers. Schools are still on holiday in several German states.

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