German rail union threatens new strikes at start of week-long talks

Germany's railway and transport union EVG is threatening further strikes amid the ongoing wage dispute with state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn, as representatives of both sides met in Berlin for the longest round of talks yet.

"If there is no clear movement in this direction this week, then we must also expect further strikes," said EVG negotiator Kristian Loroch shortly before the start of the renewed negotiations.

"What form the strikes will take, that will then be decided by the relevant bodies."

EVG and Deutsche Bahn negotiators met on Monday for five-day talks to discuss possible tariff increases for some 180,000 employees.

Deutsche Bahn still sees "large discrepancies" on the topics of salary increases, tariff structure and duration, the company's personnel director, Martin Seiler, said in Berlin on Monday.

The goal for the next few days, he said, was to "work out viable solutions."

"If we make an effort, we should also succeed in five days."

The EVG was ready for further, serious negotiations, Loroch said. "We have done everything we can to ensure that reasonable negotiations can take place here today and that there is also a good chance for the coming days." The situation is tense, he said.

Since February, the EVG has held several nationwide rail strikes.

The EVG has been negotiating with Deutsche Bahn and 50 other companies in the sector about wages and salaries for a total of about 230,000 employees. The focus is on the negotiations with Deutsche Bahn, which employs about 180,000 of these workers.

The EVG is demanding a fixed increase of at least €650 ($699) per month, or 12% in the higher paid groups, with the guarantee of renegotiations after one year. The union has completely rejected one-off payments.

During negotiations in May, Deutsche Bahn put forward a 12% increase in stages for the lowest paid employees, with 10% for those in the middle group and 8% for higher paid employees, to be paid over 24 months. The first part of the increase would be paid this year.

In addition, an inflation premium of €2,850, which would not be subject to tax or other deductions, would be paid in two stages from July.

The EVG rejected this offer.