BERLIN, Jan 22 (Reuters): German train drivers are set to stage a record six-day strike from Wednesday after their union rejected state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn's latest wage offer.
The GDL union announced on Monday that a fourth round of strikes in the ongoing wage dispute would begin at 2 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Wednesday until 6 pm (1700 GMT) on the following Monday, which would be the longest strike in Deutsche Bahn's history. Cargo train drivers were called to begin their strike a day earlier, on Tuesday at 6 pm. The longest strike at Deutsche Bahn to date lasted five days in 2015.
The latest strike could quickly add up to a billion euros in damage, taking into consideration that other transport routes have also been disrupted by the situation in the Red Sea, Michael Groemling, from the IW Cologne economic institute, said.
"Something is brewing," said Groemling. The German economy is already in recession. "This is now threatening to worsen," he said.
Commerzbank chief economist Joerg Kraemer said the strike could cost the transport sector 30 million euros ($32.66 million) a day but significantly more damage would be done if factories have to stop production due to supply problems.
German union calls longest train strike in Deutsche Bahn's history
FE Team | Published: January 22, 2024 22:22:03
German union calls longest train strike in Deutsche Bahn's history
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