German train drivers went on strike today (10 March) over pay and conditions, causing chaos to the country's rail network. Over 800 drivers walked out for six hours, from 0400 local time (0300 GMT) to 1000 local time (0900 GMT). The knock-on effects of the strike were expected to be felt for the rest of the day, according to transport officials. The areas particularly affected were Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne, and Munich, with cross-country and international rail services also badly affected. Up to 500 freight-train drivers also undertook strike action yesterday (9 March) evening, disrupting hundreds of freight-train deliveries. The GDL train-drivers union voted to hold strikes on 7 March over pay and conditions, and specifically the implementation of a single pay-scale for its members to offset the current situation where members working for state rail company Deutsche Bahn are on average paid more than those working for private rail companies (seeGermany: 8 March 2011: ). The head of Deutsche Bahn's personnel department called on the GDL to return to the negotiating table, although GDL representatives have called on the rail firm to put a "realistic" offer on the table before any talks can be held.Significance: No further information on potential future strikes has been given, although the current stalemate in talks on the pay issue means that unless an unlikely breakthrough can be made in the coming days, further walkouts are likely. There is also the risk of a protracted dispute leading to longer-term strike action, with similar strikes in 2007 causing weeks of disruption, which would have an even more serious effect on the German transport system.
