German train drivers to push ahead with strike despite offer on talks

A German train drivers' union was unmoved by a Sunday offer to expand the list of topics to be discussed in wage negotiations, meaning a strike is all but certain to carry on to passenger services for the coming work week, reported dpa.

Deutsche Bahn had hoped to ward off the strike on passenger rail lines, set to start on Monday, by agreeing to add discussion of a premium - for work amid the coronavirus pandemic - to the list of topics to be discussed.

But the GDL union said the work stoppage would go on as planned.

Deutsche Bahn's offer isn't worth the paper it's written on, said GDL boss Claus Weselsky, arguing that the union needed a concrete proposal, "not the act of putting an offer up for discussion."

Union workers already went on strike once this month, disrupting both long-distance travel, as well as many major cities' commuter rail lines. The current strike began on Saturday, but has only affected freight service so far. The expansion to passenger service is set to begin at 2 am (0000 GMT) on Monday and last through 2 am on Wednesday.

The GDL is demanding that its employees each get a 600-euro (711-dollar) premium for working during the pandemic. The dispute also focuses on pay rates, the duration of the current pay tables and pensions.

Railway workers reported relatively few disruptions due to freight shipments because of the strike, but volumes are low at the weekend. There are fears that the strike could inconvenience a variety of industries once they return to business on Monday and need to ship items.