German minister warns rail union: no strikes over Christmas

Germany's Transport Minister Volker Wissing has warned Germany's train drivers' union (GDL) and the rail operator Deutsche Bahn not to strike during the Christmas period in their ongoing wage dispute, reported dpa.

"Christmas is a time of peace - all parties to the labour dispute should think about that", Wissing told the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, in remarks published on Monday.

People want to visit relatives and friends over the Christmas period in particular, he said. He appealed "to all parties involved in collective bargaining to be aware of their special responsibility and to organize possible measures in such a way that people do not have to suffer as a result."

The wage talks between the state-owned Deutsche Bahn and the GDL are to continue on Thursday. Before the start of negotiations last Thursday GDL boss Claus Weselsky had threatened to strike, and had not ruled out industrial action over the Christmas period.

Due to the strike threats, Deutsche Bahn has drawn up an emergency timetable with a greatly reduced offer German transport minister warns rail union: no strikes over Christmas

Under this plan, long-distance services would account for less than 20% of the regular timetable. In the event of a strike, however, Deutsche Bahn intends to run trains with as many carriages as possible, to have more passenger capacity.