German union leaders resume talks

The main construction workers' union in Germany, IG Bau, has resumed pay negotiations with employers after talks broke down on 1 June and it started a series of strikes.

At the same time the union said 30,000 workers were now taking action and pledged to continue until a satisfactory pay deal had been reached.

Reports in the German press said employers were ready to improve their pay offer.

So far they have only been prepared to increase wages by 3% by 2003, whereas IG Bau had been demanding a 4.5% pay rise. A previous strike by the main German engineering workers' union, IG Metall, resulted in a 4% pay deal.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service