German Train Drivers to Strike Amid Pay Dispute with Deutsche Bahn

GDL Union Demands Salary Increase and Reduced Working Hours; DB Offers 11% Pay Raise

Germany's GDL train drivers union has announced a 20-hour strike from Wednesday to Thursday amid ongoing pay negotiations with the state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB).
The strike is expected to cause major disruptions to Germany's train services.
GDL is demanding a salary increase of €555 ($593) per month for employees, a one-off payment of €3,000 to counter inflation, and a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours without a pay cut.
DB has offered an 11% pay increase, but GDL claims that DB is not willing to discuss the union's core demands.
Earlier this year, DB reached an agreement with GDL's rival union, EVG, which included a pay increase of €410 per month and a one-off tax-free payment of €2,850 per employee.