Few passengers are seen on platforms of Berlin Central Train Station in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 2, 2021. Following two previous strike actions lasting several days, Germany's train services will be again severely affected from Wednesday to Monday due to renewed strike actions by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL). (Photo by Stefan Zeitz/Xinhua)
BERLIN, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Following two previous strike actions lasting several days, Germany's train services will be again severely affected from Wednesday to Monday due to renewed strike actions by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL).
GDL rejected the latest attempt at mediation shortly before the start of the strikes.
The third and longest round of strikes to date is scheduled to begin on Wednesday afternoon local time in freight transport, with passenger transport to follow on Thursday morning.
"A collective agreement is reached in negotiations and cannot be dictated," said Martin Seiler, personnel director at Germany's rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB), said in a press release on Monday.
In addition to a wage increase of 3.2 percent, GDL demands a COVID-19 bonus of 600 euros (708 U.S. dollars) as well as collective agreements for the entire rail infrastructure, for network, station and service as well as the workshops. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars) Enditem
