Germany's Longest Train Strike , Brings the Country to a Halt.
'The Guardian' reports that much of
Germany came to a halt on January 23,
as train operators began a planned six-day strike.
The strike, which will reportedly impact both
passenger trains and freight trains, is occurring
amid recent tension and unrest across the country.
The strike, which will reportedly impact both
passenger trains and freight trains, is occurring
amid recent tension and unrest across the country.
Farmers have blocked thoroughfares
with tractors in protest of government
proposals to end subsidies for fuel. .
At the same time, about one million people
have taken to the streets to protest revelations of
far right efforts to conduct a mass expulsion of foreigners.
The six-day train operator strike is estimated
to cost Germany millions of euros per day.
The GDL train operators' union has
called for workers' weekly hours to be
cut from 38 to 35 with no reduction in pay. .
Deutsche Bahn (DB), the national rail operator,
has offered workers an average 4.8% wage increase
beginning in August, and another 5% in spring of 2025.
In addition, DB said it would give workers
an inflation compensation package to be
paid out over a fixed period of 32 months.
In addition, DB said it would give workers
an inflation compensation package to be
paid out over a fixed period of 32 months.
However, DB has said that further cuts
to employees' working hours would deepen
an already considerable staff shortage.
'The Guardian' reports that DB is already under strain
due to consistently poor reliability stemming from long-term
underfunding and an ongoing labor shortage