German train drivers go on strike for better pay

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BERLIN (AP) — A strike by train drivers across Germany has brought hundreds of long-distance and commuter trains across the country to a standstill.

The GdL union for train drivers called for a three-hour national strike on Saturday morning to put pressure on German railway company Deutsche Bahn in their ongoing wage negotiations.

The union said that up to 90 percent of trains across the country were brought to a standstill.

It demands a 5 percent salary increase for the drivers and two hours less work per week.

The German news agency dpa reported that stranded travelers were cuing up at information counters at Munich’s main train station and that Deutsche Bahn employees were distribution coffee for free.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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