German railway workers union to go to strike ballot over pay dispute

A long-running pay dispute between Germany's main railway workers union and state rail operator Deutsche Bahn is to move a step closer to a resolution this week, reported dpa.

The transport union EVG has announced that mediators in the collective bargaining dispute will present their proposals on Friday. Then the union members will vote on whether to accept the proposal, or continue industrial action.

"On Friday, the mediators want to present their result, then we will discuss a recommendation for the members in the Federal Executive Board and start the strike ballot in August," union leader Martin Burkert told German newspaper the Augsburger Allgemeine in comments published on Monday.

It is the first strike ballot at the EVG in 30 years.

External mediators have been trying to find a way out of the deadlocked collective bargaining dispute since mid-July. The parties agreed not to disclose any details about the status of the talks.

Collective bargaining began at the end of February and broke down at the end of June. Workers twice walked off the job, briefly paralysing much of the German rail network. Both sides subsequently agreed to arbitration.

The talks were scheduled to last for about two weeks until July 31. The EVG has appointed labour lawyer Heide Pfarr as mediator. Former defence and interior minister Thomas de Maizière is mediating on behalf of Deutsche Bahn.

The union has ruled out further strikes until the ballot is completed.