German train drivers to strike after labor dispute negotiations fail

German train drivers' union GDL announced Monday it would organize yet another strike starting May 19, without setting an end date, after failing to reach a compromise over a labor dispute with German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB).

The union said freight train drivers were called to walk off their jobs at 15:00 (1300 GMT) on Tuesday, and passenger train drivers would join in at 2:00 (0000 GMT) on Wednesday.

It will be the ninth walk off of DB's train drivers since July last year and comes just eight days after the drivers ended a week-long strike.

GDL and DB have been in a lengthy dispute over train drivers' working conditions and the union's representing rights. GDL wanted to raise train drivers' wages by five percent and to shorten their working hours. The union was also seeking for the right to represent other railway staff, such as stewards, in collective bargaining.

The latest round of negotiations, which according to DB lasted 20 hours, failed during the past weekend. Both sides blamed each other for not upholding their respective negotiated agreements.

The train drivers' last strike, which ended May 10, cost the German economy 500 million euros (about 568 million U.S. dollars), according to an estimation of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).

The steel, chemical and automobile industries that rely on railway logistics, as well as millions of commuters, were severely affected. Endit