German locomotive operators carry out the most extensive strike in history

Train drivers in Germany have commenced their longest strike on record, which is set to last for six days. The GDL rail drivers' union called for the walkout, affecting both passenger and goods-train services. This strike, the fourth since November, is a result of a long-standing dispute between the union and the state-owned Deutsche Bahn. The GDL is demanding higher wages to counter rising inflation and a reduction in the working week from 38 to 35 hours without a salary cut. Deutsche Bahn has implemented an emergency timetable until the strike concludes on Monday. The strike, which occurs over a weekend for the first time, has caused significant traffic congestion in cities like Hamburg, where farmers' protests involving 100 tractors were already taking place. Regional and suburban rail services have been severely impacted, with 80% of long-distance trains canceled. The sustained industrial action has prompted complaints from the rail company and ministers about its detrimental effect on the German economy and the public. It is estimated that the six-day strike could result in a loss of up to €1 billion for the German economy, which serves as a significant hub for European goods traffic. While Transport Minister Volker Wissing has called for mediation, he acknowledges the limited prospects of an immediate solution. A YouGov survey revealed that only 34% of German adults understood the strike's cause, while 59% expressed no understanding of it. Talks between the union and Deutsche Bahn have been ongoing since November, but the company has dismissed the union's demand for a three-hour reduction in the working week. Instead, Deutsche Bahn proposed an optional model that includes a one-hour decrease without a pay cut or a 2.7% pay rise, an offer that GDL has declined.