GERMANY was brought to a standstill today at the start of the latest two-day strike called by train and airline workers over pay and working conditions.

Most long-distance trains as well as regional and commuter trains in the country were cancelled as drivers went on strike. 

Ground staff at German airline Lufthansa also walked out early today morning.

Lufthansa said earlier in the week that about 1,000 flights per day would have to be cancelled and that 200,000 air passengers would be affected.

Negotiations continue for Lufthansa ground staff and German rail operator Deutsche Bahn’s train drivers. The Union of German Train Drivers (GDL) and Ver.di called for the strikes today and tomorrow.

In addition to pay raises, GDL has been calling for working hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 per week without a pay cut, which Deutsche Bahn has refused.

The Ver.di union seeks a 12.5 per cent pay raise, or at least €500 (£425) more per month, in negotiations for nearly 25,000 Lufthansa ground workers including check-in, aircraft handling, maintenance and freight staff.

Train driver union GDL announced earlier this week that more strikes were coming in the near future, but said it would no longer announce them 48 hours in advance.