Rail travel in Germany came to a halt on Friday as workers throughout the country went on strike. To demand greater wages to help counteract inflation.
Achim Stauss, a spokesperson for national rail operator Deutsche Bahn, told reporters at Berlin’s desolate central station that “almost no trains” were running owing to a staff shortage.
According to the EVG transport union, which represents over 230,000 workers. At than 15,000 employees from 50 companies have joined the walkout.
The rail strike Germany, which is scheduled to go until 11:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT). Which is designed to “increase pressure on employers,” according to EVG representatives Cosima Ingenschay and Kristian Loroch.
“Employers believe they can ignore employee demands. And want to impose collective bargaining from on high.” “This is not acceptable,” they declared.
EVG is asking a 12% salary increase over a year for the workers it represents. Moreover, with a monthly minimum of 650 euros ($712).
Talks are ongoing
Stauss called the strike “unnecessary” because talks are ongoing.
Travel disruption was likely to persist after the strike ended. According to Deutsche Bahn, who added that the atmosphere at stations remained “quiet.”
After the strike ends, urban and regional rail services will restart. While long-distance trains will resume operation at 1:00 p.m. local time.
A big strike led by EVG and public sector union Verdi at the end of March effectively shut down Germany‘s rail system.
Verdi, which represents over 2.5 million employees. It has also been involved in difficult negotiations with national and local authorities for several weeks. The negotiations are slated to resume here on Saturday.
Workers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, childcare, and transportation, have gone on strike in recent months to demand improved working conditions.
In Germany, inflation was 7.4 percent in March. Maintaining quite high albeit falling from a peak of 8.8 percent in October.
