(adds Deutsche Bahn reaction, union quote, background)
April 19 (Reuters) - Commuters in Germany face
widespread disruption on Friday after the EVG rail and transport
union announced a nationwide strike during the busy morning
hours, affecting national operator Deutsche Bahn .
The strike, which coincides with a separate walkout at three
airports, involves 50 rail companies and will run from 3 a.m.
(0100 GMT) until 11 a.m. (0900 GMT), EVG said.
"Not a single train will run (in the country)," EVG
representative Cosima Ingenschay said.
Another union representative, Kristian Loroch, threatened a
multi-day strike in the future unless employers improved their
offer.
Deutsche Bahn said the strike would have a massive impact on
the country's rail network.
"The EVG has completely lost its sense of proportion and is
only bent on chaos," Deutsche Bahn board member for human
resources Martin Seiler said. He said the strike would also
affect long-distance trains and its impact would continue after
the action ends.
High inflation in Europe's largest economy has prompted
strikes in recent months as workers demand higher pay to offset
the rising cost of living.
The Verdi union has also called on security control workers
to strike at three airports on Thursday and Friday, with Hamburg
Airport saying all departures would be cancelled as a result.
The EVG, which is negotiating on behalf of 230,000 workers,
is seeking a 12% wage increase, or at least an additional 650
euros per month.
The state-owned Deutsche Bahn has offered 5% more and
one-off payments of up to 2,500 euros.
Another round of wage negotiations between the both sides
will take place next Tuesday.
(Reporting by Andrey Sychev, Editing by Rachel More and Barbara
Lewis)
