Budapest - Talks between Hungarian State Railways (MAV) and the largest railworkers' union failed to break the deadlock Wednesday as a national rail strike entered its fourth day. The only good news for passengers was that the strike could be lifted over Christmas, when thousands of Hungarians leave the capital Budapest to stay with relatives in the provinces.
The head of the Rail Workers' Free Trade Union (VDSZSZ), Istvan Gasko, would not say how long his union is prepared to continue with the strike, but said a full service is planned for December 24, 25 and 26.
Once again, railway stations across the country were empty on Wednesday, and two of Budapest's three major stations had cancelled all morning departures. Passengers willing to take a chance on rail travel were again warned to be prepared for significant delays or cancellations.
"The position of the employer remains that there is no collateral to meet the union's demands, which in any case are unlawful," MAV press officer Imre Kovalecz told local news agency MTI after the meeting.
"MAV does not care that the trains are not running," said Balazs Barany, deputy president of the VDSZSZ. He added that with the money lost through three days of industrial action, MAV could have met all of the striking workers' demands.
The union is demanding a one-off payment of 250,000 forints (934 euros) to all MAV employees from the proceeds of the privatization of MAV Cargo, the recently spun off freight wing of the loss-making state-owned rail firm. It also wants a backdated, ten per cent pay rise for subcontracted workers.
