German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry.

The walkout will affect cargo trains from 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, before extending to passenger traffic at 2 am on Wednesday, said the train drivers' GDL union leader, Claus Weselsky.

Some 95 per cent of union members had voted for the first round of industrial action, which is due to end on Friday.

Train operator Deutsche Bahn slammed the decision as an "unnecessary escalation on the back of rail customers".

"Just as people are travelling more again and using trains, GDL leaders are destroying the upswing that we urgently need given the huge damage from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a>," said Martin Seiler, DB board member for human resources and legal affairs.

But Weselsky argued that the GDL "intentionally chose this timeframe in the week to limit the impact on weekend and holiday traffic" and that it was "never the best time" for a strike.

He in turn accused DB managers of "lining their pockets while the little guys are getting their pockets picked."

The strike would be the first hitting rail traffic since December 2018, when a stoppage was called for four hours.

It marked a new setback at the height of the key summer vacation season for the travel industry which was only starting to recover after months of shutdown over coronavirus infection risks.

With the walkout also due to affect rail cargo,&nbsp;Germany's industrial groups already hit by supply chain issues risk seeing further delivery delays for raw materials or components from timber to steel to computer chips.

Struggle for influence?&nbsp;

The last major conflict between unions and DB occurred between 2014-2015 when GDL organised nine rounds of strikes over nine months to demand regulatory reforms.&nbsp;

The stoppage in May 2015 of six consecutive days has held the record as the longest in the company's history.

This time, GDL argues that it was fighting for a better remuneration deal for train drivers. Among its demands are a 1.4 per cent pay hike, a bonus of 600 euros ($704) for 2021, and a further wage rise of 1.8 per cent in 2022.

Deutsche Bahn had offered to phase in a 3.2 per cent wage increase in two steps but the two parties were unable to agree on when the hikes would apply.

Critics have accused GDL of using the strike to gain greater influence and attract members from larger union EVG -- which covers railway workers and public transport employees.

The fight for influence was all the more critical due to a rule coming in force this year stipulating that the collective deal negotiated by the biggest union applies across the sector.

Deutsche Bahn was already contending with huge losses as demand for travel drastically shrank over the pandemic which erupted in March 2020.

It was also struggling to rebuild kilometres of tracks destroyed by deadly floods that struck western&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;in mid-July.

German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry.

German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry. The walkout will affect cargo trains from 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, before extending to passenger traffic at 2 am on Wednesday, said the train drivers' GDL union leader, Claus Weselsky. Some 95 per cent of union members had voted for the first round of industrial action, which is due to end on Friday. Train operator Deutsche Bahn slammed the decision as an "unnecessary escalation on the back of rail customers". "Just as people are travelling more again and using trains, GDL leaders are destroying the upswing that we urgently need given the huge damage from the coronavirus pandemic," said Martin Seiler, DB board member for human resources and legal affairs. But Weselsky argued that the GDL "intentionally chose this timeframe in the week to limit the impact on weekend and holiday traffic" and that it was "never the best time" for a strike. He in turn accused DB managers of "lining their pockets while the little guys are getting their pockets picked." The strike would be the first hitting rail traffic since December 2018, when a stoppage was called for four hours. It marked a new setback at the height of the key summer vacation season for the travel industry which was only starting to recover after months of shutdown over coronavirus infection risks. With the walkout also due to affect rail cargo, Germany's industrial groups already hit by supply chain issues risk seeing further delivery delays for raw materials or components from timber to steel to computer chips. Struggle for influence? The last major conflict between unions and DB occurred between 2014-2015 when GDL organised nine rounds of strikes over nine months to demand regulatory reforms. The stoppage in May 2015 of six consecutive days has held the record as the longest in the company's history. This time, GDL argues that it was fighting for a better remuneration deal for train drivers. Among its demands are a 1.4 per cent pay hike, a bonus of 600 euros ($704) for 2021, and a further wage rise of 1.8 per cent in 2022. Deutsche Bahn had offered to phase in a 3.2 per cent wage increase in two steps but the two parties were unable to agree on when the hikes would apply. Critics have accused GDL of using the strike to gain greater influence and attract members from larger union EVG -- which covers railway workers and public transport employees. The fight for influence was all the more critical due to a rule coming in force this year stipulating that the collective deal negotiated by the biggest union applies across the sector. Deutsche Bahn was already contending with huge losses as demand for travel drastically shrank over the pandemic which erupted in March 2020. It was also struggling to rebuild kilometres of tracks destroyed by deadly floods that struck western Germany in mid-July.

German train drivers call strike in escalating wage spat

At least three garment manufacturers in Bangladesh that supply European brands such as H&amp;M and Next have laid off thousands of workers weeks after they had joined wage protests, union leaders said on Tuesday.

The layoffs come after days of protests and clashes between police and workers in January that prompted the government to intervene and compel manufacturers to raise wages.

"Workers who chanted slogans or left factories and joined in processions to demand wage increases, and the ones who have any link to trade bodies, are now losing jobs," said Kazi Ruhul Amin, head of the Bangladesh Garment Workers' Trade Union Center.

Babul Akhter, head of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, said at least 7,580 workers from 27 factories had been laid off in recent weeks.

Bangladesh's $30 billion readymade garments industry accounts for 80 per cent of the country's exports, making it the world's second-biggest garment exporter after China.

Siddiqur Rahman, head of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association, said workers accused of vandalism during the protests "and other destructive acts are facing charges and will have to face punishment."

Some workers said they had protested peacefully and lost their jobs because they tried to unionise other workers.

"I was surprised when I saw my name at the top of the list," said one woman who asked not to be identified.

"During the protests, I came to work every day. And I was never involved in any rampage or wrongdoing," she said. "My name and my fellow workers' names were included because we had tried to form a union."

A senior official in Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour and Employment declined to comment on the layoffs.

NOTHING ILLEGAL

Union leaders said three manufacturers - Crony Group, East West Industrial Park Ltd and Metro Knitting &amp; Dyeing Mills Ltd - had laid off workers.

The garment makers list Sweden's H&amp;M and British clothing retailer Next as clients on their websites.

Crony and Metro were not immediately available for comment.

Aminul Islam, chief administrator of East West, said some workers attacked the factory and destroyed assets on January 7. He said more than 800 of its 6,500 workers had been suspended after the incident.

Harun Ur Rashid, chairman of East West Group, said the company was "not do anything illegal or unjust" when asked about layoffs at the firm.

"We know if we do that, then buyers will not take this lightly and they will not like it," he said.

Foreign brands said they are closely watching the situation in Bangladesh.

"Next is aware of the situation - and its directly-employed audit staff on the ground in Bangladesh are currently investigating this matter," the retailer said in an email.&nbsp;

H&amp;M said it "regards freedom of association to be a non-negotiable human right," and that it is "deeply concerned by the recent events in the Bangladeshi textile industry."

Other European brands such as Zara, Mango and US brands Guess and Saks - which are listed as clients by one or more of the three Bangladeshi garment firms - did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At least three garment manufacturers in Bangladesh that supply European brands such as H&M and Next have laid off thousands of workers weeks after they had joined wage protests, union leaders said on Tuesday.

At least three garment manufacturers in Bangladesh that supply European brands such as H&M and Next have laid off thousands of workers weeks after they had joined wage protests, union leaders said on Tuesday. The layoffs come after days of protests and clashes between police and workers in January that prompted the government to intervene and compel manufacturers to raise wages. "Workers who chanted slogans or left factories and joined in processions to demand wage increases, and the ones who have any link to trade bodies, are now losing jobs," said Kazi Ruhul Amin, head of the Bangladesh Garment Workers' Trade Union Center. Babul Akhter, head of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, said at least 7,580 workers from 27 factories had been laid off in recent weeks. Bangladesh's $30 billion readymade garments industry accounts for 80 per cent of the country's exports, making it the world's second-biggest garment exporter after China. Siddiqur Rahman, head of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association, said workers accused of vandalism during the protests "and other destructive acts are facing charges and will have to face punishment." Some workers said they had protested peacefully and lost their jobs because they tried to unionise other workers. "I was surprised when I saw my name at the top of the list," said one woman who asked not to be identified. "During the protests, I came to work every day. And I was never involved in any rampage or wrongdoing," she said. "My name and my fellow workers' names were included because we had tried to form a union." A senior official in Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour and Employment declined to comment on the layoffs. NOTHING ILLEGAL Union leaders said three manufacturers - Crony Group, East West Industrial Park Ltd and Metro Knitting & Dyeing Mills Ltd - had laid off workers. The garment makers list Sweden's H&M and British clothing retailer Next as clients on their websites. Crony and Metro were not immediately available for comment. Aminul Islam, chief administrator of East West, said some workers attacked the factory and destroyed assets on January 7. He said more than 800 of its 6,500 workers had been suspended after the incident. Harun Ur Rashid, chairman of East West Group, said the company was "not do anything illegal or unjust" when asked about layoffs at the firm. "We know if we do that, then buyers will not take this lightly and they will not like it," he said. Foreign brands said they are closely watching the situation in Bangladesh. "Next is aware of the situation - and its directly-employed audit staff on the ground in Bangladesh are currently investigating this matter," the retailer said in an email. H&M said it "regards freedom of association to be a non-negotiable human right," and that it is "deeply concerned by the recent events in the Bangladeshi textile industry." Other European brands such as Zara, Mango and US brands Guess and Saks - which are listed as clients by one or more of the three Bangladeshi garment firms - did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bangladesh suppliers to H&M, Next lay off workers after wage protests

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