German railway operator offers pay rise to end strike

Germany's national railway operator said today that it is offering train drivers a pay rise of up to 13% as it tries to end a bitter dispute which has resulted in several strikes.

Deutsche Bahn announced last week that it had made a "significantly improved" offer to the GDL union, which represents drivers, but gave no further information.

After details leaked to German media, the company said today that it was offering an increase of between 8% and 13%.

Union leaders are to decide on Monday whether to open formal negotiations on the package.

GDL has rejected a 4.5% rise to which Deutsche Bahn agreed earlier this year with two rival unions that represent a broader range of railway workers. It has been insisting on a deal independent of other railway workers and has called for a "double-digit" increase for drivers.

While the company appears willing to move on pay, Deutsche Bahn chief executive Hartmut Mehdorn said at an event in the southern town of Neu-Ulm that the principle of all company employees being covered by a single pay structure "is not negotiable".

Following a series of limited strikes - including a 62-hour stoppage in freight and passenger traffic earlier this month - the union had threatened an open-ended strike unless it got a new offer.

GDL spokesman Maik Brandenburger said the union would not comment on the new offer before Monday.

If GDL secures a pay rise of more than 4.5% for drivers, Deutsche Bahn is expected to face demands for more money from the other unions.