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| German train drivers in walkout | German train drivers in walkout |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| German train drivers have staged brief walkouts in two cities in an escalation of their pay dispute with state operator Deutsche Bahn. | German train drivers have staged brief walkouts in two cities in an escalation of their pay dispute with state operator Deutsche Bahn. |
| Drivers from the GDL union stopped work for two hours in Berlin and Hamburg, affecting commuter services. | Drivers from the GDL union stopped work for two hours in Berlin and Hamburg, affecting commuter services. |
| Deutsche Bahn has secured an injunction against strikes on commuter services outside Berlin and Hamburg as well as long-distance and freight services. | Deutsche Bahn has secured an injunction against strikes on commuter services outside Berlin and Hamburg as well as long-distance and freight services. |
| GDL says its members are underpaid and is seeking a 31% pay rise for staff. | GDL says its members are underpaid and is seeking a 31% pay rise for staff. |
| 'Clear signal' | 'Clear signal' |
| Wednesday's court ruling, blocking strike action on the grounds of the economic damage it would cause, did not cover regional services in Berlin and Hamburg. | Wednesday's court ruling, blocking strike action on the grounds of the economic damage it would cause, did not cover regional services in Berlin and Hamburg. |
| The drivers' patience is at an end Claus Weselsky, GDL deputy chairman | The drivers' patience is at an end Claus Weselsky, GDL deputy chairman |
| The GDL union is still appealing against the injunction but has insisted its members would not take part in illegal action. | The GDL union is still appealing against the injunction but has insisted its members would not take part in illegal action. |
| "This is the measure that is available to us", said Claus Weselsky, GDL's deputy chairman. | "This is the measure that is available to us", said Claus Weselsky, GDL's deputy chairman. |
| Mr Weselsky said his members were angered that the firm had sought an injunction without seeking first to negotiate. | Mr Weselsky said his members were angered that the firm had sought an injunction without seeking first to negotiate. |
| "We want to send a clear signal. The drivers' patience is at an end." | "We want to send a clear signal. The drivers' patience is at an end." |
| GDL says its members are paid 1,500 euros (£1,015) a month and should benefit more from the recovery of the German economy, which has boosted freight and passenger traffic. | GDL says its members are paid 1,500 euros (£1,015) a month and should benefit more from the recovery of the German economy, which has boosted freight and passenger traffic. |
| Deutsche Bahn has agreed a pay deal with two other unions which will see workers receive a 4.5% rise in wages. | Deutsche Bahn has agreed a pay deal with two other unions which will see workers receive a 4.5% rise in wages. |
| Privatisation plan | Privatisation plan |
| Deutsche Bahn, which carries more than five million passengers a day, has said it hopes to restart negotiations as soon as possible. | |
| Both sides have said they will consider outside mediation to end the dispute. | |
| Economists say the impact of a short dispute would be limited | |
| Business groups have said repeated strikes could cause "immense" damage to the economy at the height of the holiday season. | Business groups have said repeated strikes could cause "immense" damage to the economy at the height of the holiday season. |
| However, one analyst said the likely impact on productivity would be limited since the railways only carried a fraction of the amount of freight transported by road. | |
| "Provided that the strike is resolved within a week or two, we would not expect it to knock any more than 0.1% off German GDP this year," said Jennifer McKeown, european economist at Capital Economics. | |
| Prolonged strike action could also threaten plans to part-privatise Deutsche Bahn next year. | Prolonged strike action could also threaten plans to part-privatise Deutsche Bahn next year. |
| Unions have expressed concerns at the plan, approved by ministers last month, to sell off a stake of up to 25% to private investors. | Unions have expressed concerns at the plan, approved by ministers last month, to sell off a stake of up to 25% to private investors. |