Deutsche Bahn Offers Pay Hike To Head Off Strike

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has made train drivers an offer to avoid renewed strikes over the weekend. But for the GDL union, the proposed pay hike may not go far enough.

Shortly before a two-day strike by Deutsche Bahn train drivers over the weekend, the German rail operator made a fresh offer to the GDL union that would see train drivers' wages rise by 5 percent for 30 months. They would also get a 325-euro ($416) one-off payment each.



GDL had announced they would begin a renewed strike for freight services on Friday at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) and for passenger trains on Saturday at 2 a.m. (0000 GMT). Both would last until Monday at 4 a.m. (0200 GMT).



Deutsche Bahn said the offer was valid for train drivers only, but added it was in principle willing to talk about better conditions for other staff too.



Deutsche Bahn also offered to hire 200 more train drivers in 2015 and allow for more favorable shift arrangements in the process.



Outcome unclear



The union had demanded a 5-percent pay rise for drivers and a 2-hour cut in their working week to 37 hours. It also wanted to expand its mandate to include other train staff.



Passenger train drivers already staged a 14-hour strike on Wednesday and Thursday. The GDL union did not immediately say whether DB's offer would prompt it to call off the strike.



hg,sgb/cjc (DB, GDL, Reuters, AFP, dpa)