German rail workers to strike today

Germany's rail workers will stage a four-hour nationwide strike today. The industrial action — which is due to start at 5am and will affect local, regional and long-distance trains — comes after pay talks between EVG union and rail operator Deutsche Bahn broke down over the weekend. The union is asking for a 7.5% wage increase and changes to working hours and holidays; state-owned Deutsche Bahn says it offered a 5.1% pay rise in two stages and a one-off payment of €500, which is equivalent to a 7% wage increase.