Publications
Partners
Berlin - Germany's rail network began gradually returning to normal on Sunday after train drivers ended a near one-week-long strike, the longest in the history of state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn.
However, aspects of the dispute over pay and negotiating rights remain unresolved and the train drivers' union has so far refused to heed a government call for mediation, raising concerns it could call further stoppages.
The strike has caused major disruption in a country where about 5.5 million passengers use the train network each day and one-fifth of freight - some 620 000 tonnes a day - is hauled by rail.
Economists said the stoppage, which began on freight trains on Monday and spread to passenger trains on Tuesday, could cut second-quarter economic growth by 0.1 percentage point, costing Europe's biggest economy up to €750m.
There would still be some disruptions in rail services during Sunday but normal operations should be restored by Monday, Deutsche Bahn said in a statement.
The GDL union, which represents 20 000 train drivers, launched the walkout to back demands for it to negotiate a 5% pay rise and a reduction in the work week to 37 hours from 39 on behalf of other rail workers including train stewards.
Deutsche Bahn, which has 200 000 employees, has offered its drivers a 4.7% pay rise plus a one-off payment of €1 000 (around $1 120).
But it has refused to let the GDL negotiate wage deals for non-drivers, a core demand the union reiterated on Friday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the two sides to accept a mediator. GDL head Claus Weselsky so far has rejected this option.
Coinciding with a series of strikes at airline Lufthansa , the transport stoppages have prompted the government to draft a law to limit the power of small unions like those representing train drivers and airline pilots.
