A widespread public transport strike commenced across various German states on Thursday, promising significant disruptions as buses, trams, and underground trains halted operations in numerous areas.
The strike, spanning two days and set to end on Friday, was called for by the trade union Verdi. Affected cities and states include Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate, with planned demonstrations in several urban centers.
In Thuringia, the strike extended into Thursday, while suburban trains and regional buses not managed by municipal employers remained unaffected. Regional and long-distance rail services continued as usual, adhering to their regular schedules.
The strikes come amid tense collective bargaining negotiations between public transit agencies and their workers, resulting in multiple strikes in recent weeks. Notably, staff members in Bavaria are part of the negotiations but are contractually obligated to abstain from participating in the strikes.
