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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."
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