Train drivers for German rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced a week-long strike to start Monday, their eighth work stoppage in 10 months of bitterly contentious wage negotiations.
The drivers' union GDL on Sunday called on workers to down tools from 3:00 pm Monday (1300 GMT) for freight and 2:00 am Tuesday for passenger trains, with the strike to end for both services 9:00 am on May 10. After fresh talks failed to find an agreement GDL had warned on Wednesday of a "long strike". Its 43-hour walkout late last month led to the cancellation of two thirds of long-distance trains. GDL has been locked in a bitter dispute with management primarily focused on the employees it wants to represent, but also on wages and working hours.