Austrian railways OK 3.4 per cent pay raise for employees

BERLIN – Austrian railway operators have reached a pay deal with employees, averting the possibility of further strikes after a two-hour walkout brought trains to a standstill last week.

The Austria Press Agency reported that the deal reached Sunday involves a 3.4 per cent pay rise backdated to July 1, along with other improvements to working conditions. The deal covers some 40,000 employees, and the state-run OeBB is the biggest of a few dozen railway operators.

Talks resumed following a strike last Monday that affected more than 100,000 passengers.