Walkouts hit German energy giant

E.On is Germany's biggest gas supplier

Union members at German power provider E.On have walked out on strike in a dispute over wages and working hours.

Members of the German services ver.di union staged rolling walkouts of up to a few hours at power plants and service centres across Germany.

But ver.di officials warn that if its demands for an 8.5% pay increase are not met, it will call more strikes.

E.On is currently offering a 5% pay rise. The firm's electricity supply was not affected by the action.

E.On also wants the working week to be increased by an hour to 37 hours, which has further angered the ver.di union because the longer hours dilute the impact of the wage offer on the table.