Enlarge image

Pickets in front of a train depot in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa

At the turn of the month from February to March, many commuters have to prepare for the fact that the way to work will become more complicated - at least as long as they use local public transport.

The service union Ver.di has once again called for strikes across Germany, affecting numerous transport companies across the country.

The industrial action will last from Monday to Saturday next week and will be staggered regionally, as the union announced on Thursday.

"In individual federal states there are strikes on different days during this period - primarily all day and mostly over several days."

Advance warning at least 48 hours before the start of the strike

The main strike day is Friday, March 1st, which is also the climate strike day.

In collective bargaining, Verdi wants to achieve better working conditions for the approximately 90,000 public transport employees in over 130 municipal companies - for example through fewer weekly working hours, more vacation or additional relief days for shift and night work.

But when exactly will the strike take place?

Giving an answer to this is not that easy.

This is because the strikes are organized regionally.

In some federal states it has not yet been clarified at what time the strike should take place.

Baden-Württemberg is such an example.

However, Ver.di promises to announce strike information at least 48 hours before the strike begins so that citizens can prepare.

Strike times that affect five federal states have so far been clearly communicated: Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

But that doesn't mean there aren't strikes elsewhere.

You can find an overview of affected municipalities and transport companies in which Ver.di has already announced the strikes here:

Berlin areaopen

02/29

until March 1st, 2024 (2 p.m.)

The Berlin transport company BVG and its subsidiary Berlin Transport are on strike.

AreaSaarlandopen

February 26, 2024

Saarbahn

Saarbahn Netz GmbH

Neunkircher Verkehrs GmbH

Vehicle service Neunkirchen GmbH

Roundabout company Saarlouis (KVS/KVG)

Völklingen transport company VVB

AreaHamburg and Schleswig Holsteinopen

02/29

until March 2nd, 2024

The Hamburger Hochbahn and the Hamburg-Holstein transport company (VHH) are on strike.

The strike begins at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday and ends at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday.

The night buses from Friday to Saturday are also affected.

North Rhine-Westphalia areaopen

02/26

until March 2nd, 2024

Ver.di is calling for a wave strike from Monday, February 26th, 2024 to Saturday, March 2nd, 2024.

The main strike day is March 1st.

Those affected are:

  • Duisburg transport company

  • Rheinbahn AG (Düsseldorf)

  • WSW mobil GmbH (Wuppertal)

  • Solingen public utilities

  • Remscheid municipal utilities

  • Railways of the city of Monheim

  • MVG Märkische Verkehrsgesellschaft (Lüdenscheid)

  • Verkehrsgesellschaft Ennepe-Ruhr mbH (Ennepetal)

  • Hagen tram

  • Cologne transport company

  • Stadtwerke Bonn GmbH (SWB)

  • Stadtwerke Bonn Services GmbH (SWBD)

  • Stadtwerke Bonn Verkehrs-GmbH (SWBV)

  • wupsi GmbH (Leverkusen)

  • WestVerkehr GmbH (Geilenkirchen)

  • Investment company Kreis Düren mbH (BTG)

  • Lower Rhine transport company NIAG (Moers)

  • SWK Mobil (Krefeld)

  • NEW mobile and active Mönchengladbach

  • NEW mobile and active Viersen

  • Dortmund municipal utilities

  • Vestische trams (Herten)

  • Bochum-Gelsenkirchen trams

  • Ruhrbahn (Essen)

  • STOAG Stadtwerke Oberhausen

  • Tram Herne – Castrop-Rauxel

  • Hamm municipal utilities

  • Hamm transport company

  • Gütersloh municipal utilities

  • Münster municipal utilities

  • REVG Rhein-Erft-Verkehrsgesellschaft (Kerpen)

  • moBiel GmbH (Bielefeld)

Brandenburg areaopen

02/28/2024



Uckermärkische Verkehrsgesellschaft with locations in Templin, Prenzlau, Schwedt and Angermünde

02/29/2024

Ostprignitz-Ruppin local transport company

March 1, 2024

ViP Verkehrsbetriebe Potsdam GmbH,

Dahme-Spreewald regional transport company

Uckermärkische Verkehrsgesellschaft (Schwedt)

Transport company Tältow-Fläming (VTF)(Luckenwalde)

Bus transport Oder-Spree (Fürstenwalde)

Barnimer Bus Company (Eberswalde)

Cottbus traffic

Havelbus transport company (Nauen)

regiobus Potsdam Mittelmark

Frankfurt an der Oder city transport company)

DB Regio East (Potsdam)

Brandenburg an der Havel transport company

At the beginning of the month, Verdi had already paralyzed local public transport in almost all of Germany with a labor dispute.

“The signal that the employees sent with their strike on February 2nd was apparently not sufficiently understood,” criticized Verdi deputy chairwoman Christine Behle.

The collective bargaining negotiations in the individual federal states still remained without results.

“In order to finally bring movement into the negotiations, pressure must now be put on the employers again,” emphasized Behle.

So far they have not signaled any concession.

This means that – except in Bavaria – another strike is unavoidable.

"That's why we're calling on the employees to take concerted strikes."

beb