On Tuesday, the service‑sector union Verdi announced that it is calling for nationwide strikes in public transport on Friday and possibly Saturday. The union said that many municipal transport companies will have no buses or trains operating on Friday, and that in a number of wage groups the strike is set to extend into Saturday.
The action will involve around 150 public transport operators and bus companies across all German states, affecting roughly 100,000 employees. Verdi is mainly negotiating with municipal employer associations over working conditions, with a focus on easing weekly hours and shift duties and securing higher night‑ and weekend‑time premiums. In some regions, the talks also cover higher wages and salaries.
Christine Behle, deputy chair of Verdi, noted that the negotiations are progressing very slowly, despite four rounds having taken place in some areas. She added that the pressures on drivers are too great and that staffing problems could worsen. The union expects the impact of the upcoming strike days to mirror that of the first nationwide strike on February 2, when traffic in more than 100 companies was halted for 24 hours.