German train drivers' strike cost €150m

The string of walkouts by German train drivers in the autumn cost national rail operator Deutsche Bahn more than 150 million euros ($174 million), its chief said on Wednesday.
"The strikes by (train drivers' union) GDL cost us a lot of money," Deutsche Bahn chief executive Ruediger Grube told a news conference.
The figure of "more than 150 million euros" included the cost of train cancellations, contingency timetables, ticket reimbursements and the cleaning of the trains during the industrial action, he said.
The GDL union called six walk-outs between September and November, hitting both cargo and passenger trains, in their demands for wage increases and shorter working hours. GDL also wants to represent other categories of employees within Deutsche Bahn, not just train drivers.
A deal still has not been reached and several more rounds of talks are scheduled for February.
Recently though, GDL chief Claus Weselsky has sought to appear less antagonistic, saying at the weekend that "you shouldn't constantly brandish the threat of strikes."