Strikes across Germany in the public sector look set to continue into the weekend - je 07.03.2008

Strikes across Germany in the public sector look set to continue into the weekend. Talks broke down Friday morning. The dimensions of this are historic. There is very little public transportation or trash pickup in Berlin--one of Europe's largest cities. The union Verdi is threatening indefinite strike action as it demands an 8- percent wage hike. So far, employers are offering 5- percent - and that's tied to a increase in working hours. ++sYN MAZ++