German rail workers planned a strike on Thursday to outline their discontent regarding wages, but saw their plans withered by a court decision banning their action.

The Nuremberg tribunal considered that a four-hour disruption scheduled for tomorrow would have a grave impact on Germany’s economy and decided to block the strike of about 8,000 train drivers members of the GDL union.

Unhappy with their salaries, the workers were going to stop transport of goods for four hours and further similar actions affecting passenger services also would have continued if their 31 per cent pay raise wasn’t approved by Deutsche Bahn.

GDL said it would appeal to the ruling, but will conform to it until a final decision is made. The court’s ruling was made public on Wednesday and forbids strikes until September 30.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn the company operating state railways appealed to the GDL union to participate at a new round of negotiations that would eventually end this crisis threatening the blooming economy.

DB signed an agreement with two other unions for a 4.5-per-cent pay increase, but GDL refused to sign the deal considering its members should benefit from the hike in operating revenues.

The Berlin-based company said it remains “open to compromise” and is willing to accept new proposition as its hand “continues to be stretched out to the GDL.”