German air traffic controllers call off strike

German air traffic controllers called off a six-hour strike at the last minute Tuesday, the GdF union said, after their employers launched new talks on demands for pay hikes. The Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) initiated an arbitration process with the union, which had announced a six-hour strike from 0400 GMT Tuesday. Union members are demanding a 6.5 percent wage increase. The DFS had earlier accused GdF union representatives of rejecting its offer for further negotiations, while the union -- which represents more than 3,000 of the 5,500 air traffic controllers -- said it would not sit down for talks until a new pay offer was made. Controllers earn between 72,000 and 130,000 euros ($104,000 and 187,000) per year, according to the DFS. Airlines said they feared major delays Tuesday in the middle of the brisk August travel season.