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Local Germany
19-03-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Berlin commuters to face 48-hour public transport strike this week
The Verdi trade union announced on Monday that it is calling for workers from the public transport operator, Berliner Verkehrsbetrieben (BVG), to take part in a 48-hour public transport strike later this week. It is the third round of strike action - and the longest - in the recent negotiations. The previous strikes - on January 27th and February 10th each lasted 24 hours. The industrial action will cause major disruption to people trying to get around the German capital. Most buses, the entire tram network, and U-Bahn services (the subway) will come to a standstill. As during previous strikes, U-Bahn stations will remain closed. READ MORE: How to get around Berlin during public transport strikes The strike will begin at 3am on Thursday and run until 3am on Saturday morning. But even after the action has concluded, services may still be irregular so passengers should expect further disruption. A statement from BVG said: "We ask for your understanding that services may still be irregular for a few hours after the end of the warning strike at around 3am on Saturday morning." Advertisement Public transport users in Berlin will be able to use the S-Bahn and regional trains, which are operated by Deutsche Bahn rather than BVG. Lines and services operated by other companies on behalf of BVG are also not affected by the strike. A strike notice in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Soeren Stache What is the strike about? The action is being held as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. The union is campaigning for better pay for around 16,600 employees at the state-owned BVG group. Demands include salary increases of €750 per month over a period of 12 months, as well as a 13th salary and other bonuses. BVG recently presented an offer to Verdi that included a wage increase of 17.6 percent over the next four years. However, the Verdi bargaining committee rejected the offer. "BVG has still not understood that the employees will not accept a wage reduction in real terms," said Jeremy Arndt, Verdi negotiator at BVG. "That is why we are now increasing the pressure." READ ALSO: Commuters in Berlin face disruption as fresh public transport strike announced Advertisement BVG slammed the union's renewed industrial action. "We appeal to the Verdi union to withdraw the completely exaggerated 48-hour strike and work together at the negotiating table to achieve a good result," said a spokesperson from BVG. The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place on Wednesday next. Verdi has given the BVG an ultimatum to submit a satisfactory offer by March 21st. If a deal isn't reached by then, the union has threatened unlimited strikes, which could last much longer and cause huge disruption. It comes as a series of strikes affect public transport and services across Germany during a collective bargaining period. READ ALSO: Will Germany see more transport and public sector strikes?
Local Germany
19-03-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Berlin to see two-day public transport strike from Wednesday
Berlin is set to see a 48-hour transportation strike on Wednesday, March 19th, and Thursday, March 20th -- bringing much of the city's U-Bahn, tram, and bus traffic to a standstill. The latest strike is part of Verdi's ongoing wage dispute with the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), which operates public transport in the capital. Announced on Friday afternoon, it comes just ahead of the next round of BVG-union negotiations scheduled for March 21st. BVG has made offers to the union, but Verdi slammed the latest proposals as "completely inadequate" and said they fail to address the rising cost of living. 'The current offer does not adequately honour the hard work of our employees,' said Verdi chief negotiator Jeremy Arndt. He urged the transport operator to present a 'significantly improved offer' during the upcoming talks. Meanwhile, BVG has described the union's demands as financially unfeasible and called on Verdi to compromise. READ ALSO: 'No family life' - A Berlin bus driver explains why public transport workers are striking "We have made significant concessions to Verdi in four separate stages," BVG personnel director Jenny Zeller-Grothe told RBB on Friday. "Now it is Verdi's turn to put a compromise proposal on the table instead of clinging to maximum demands." The services union is demanding pay increases of at least €750 per month with a contract duration of 12 months, as well as higher allowances for certain types of shift. In its latest counter-offer, BVG offered €240 more per month this year, with an additional increase of €135 per month next year - a pay rise of over 13 percent. Advertisement This week's strike is expected to cause major disruptions for Berlin's commuters, with U-Bahn stations likely to remain closed and buses and trams staying off the roads. It will begin and end with the start of operations on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. Travellers are advised to seek alternative transportation options or work from home if possible. S-Bahn and rail services, which are run by Deutsche Bahn, will operate as normal during the strike.
