A German rail workers' union said Thursday that it's prepared to take a long-running pay dispute with the main national railway operator to arbitration, which should head off strikes during the summer vacation period.
Talks between the EVG union and state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn broke down last week. The union — which has already staged hours-long or one-day “warning strikes," a common tactic in German negotiations — then announced a ballot on open-ended strike action.
