Rail Workers Strike

The strikes lasted for about two to three hours and ended around 9 a.m. local time. They mainly affected southwest and northeast Germany, with ripple effects being felt throughout the country.

"It's hard to say how long the effects will be felt," one of the strike organizers told German public radio.

Putting jobs at risk?

Officials for rail worker's union Transnet said they were evaluating the strike and would decide on any further action during the day. The train engineers' union announced Monday morning that they were planning to go on a nationwide strike on Tuesday from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Railway workers are demanding a 7-percent wage increase. Deutsche Bahn officials have offered a one-time payment of 300 euros ($404) and 2-percent wage increases in 2008 and 2009 for some 134,000 employees. They have said that about 9,000 jobs would be put at risk if they met the union's demands.

Union officials said they would halt the strikes as soon as employers were willing to return to the bargaining table with a better offer.