The German train drivers union GDL threatened on Friday to stage an indefinite strike next week as the latest round of walkout entered its third day.
If the German national railway operator Deutsche Bahn did not improve its offer over the weekend, the union would consider an indefinite strike early next week, said GDL vice-chairman Guenther Kinscher
"If the Deutsche Bahn management doesn't move, there is nothing else we can do," he said.
The state-owned railway and the GDL have been at a stalemate since July with the union pressing for a pay hike of as much as 31percent for train drivers and a collective pay contract separate from those applying to other employees of the company.
As the Deutsche Bahn refusing to compromise, the union staged anew wave of walkout targeting cargo service from Wednesday afternoon, then widened it early Thursday to commuter and long-distance passenger service. Both strikes are due to end early Saturday.
A spokesman of the railway said on Friday that the situation in cargo service had become more acute after a walkout of over 43 hours.
The Deutsche Bahn was only able to transport primary goods in western Germany and the most essential products in eastern Germany, he said.
The biggest walkout in Deutsche Bahn's history also left millions of commuters and other passengers stranded. According to the spokesman, only 20 percent of regional passenger trains in eastern Germany and 50 percent of regional trains in the western part of the country were running as part of an emergency schedule.
Source: Xinhua
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