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Berlin - A railways strike that sullied Germany's reputation for cool efficiency may re-ignite, with a second union warning on Wednesday it will halt trains if its demands are not met.
National rail carrier Deutsche Bahn has been caught in the middle between two squabbling unions which both want to represent the 17 000 conductors, stewards, dispatchers and marshallers on its trains.
Alexander Kirchner, the leader of the 210 000-member rail union EVG, said: "If we make constructive progress, no strike will be needed." But he refused to rule out stoppages as his union battles for turf with GDL, a 34 000-member group seen as encroaching on his members.
The GDL, which negotiates for train drivers, staged a stoppage of more than three days this month to back up its demands to forge a labour contract on behalf of staff riding in the back of the train.
Two thirds of express and suburban trains were cancelled during the strike, which caused absenteeism at some of Germany's key industries.
Top-level talks late Tuesday between Deutsche Bahn management and the leaders of the two unions ended in deadlock. Kirchner accused the GDL of trying to split the workforce at Bahn into two opposing camps.
Bahn has scheduled talks with the two unions Friday, separately this time. Both unions want pay hikes, but refuse to coordinate the claims. The rail company has 307 000 employees overall.
The German government is meanwhile planning a law change that may help avert such strikes by banning overlaps between trade unions.
