BERLIN (Reuters) – Buses, trams and underground trains stood idle across most of Germany on Friday at the culmination of a week of staggered public transport strikes triggered by disputes over working hours.
The walkouts, organised by the Verdi union, have hit 14 of the country’s 16 states, including Berlin. They were due to end in the capital at 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) but stretch into Saturday elsewhere.
Adding to the potential turmoil, the actions coincided on Friday with climate protests calling for greener transport in more than 100 cities, organised by Fridays for Future and other green campaign groups.
It was the second wave of near-nationwide public transport strikes in recent weeks called by Verdi, which represents about 90,000 employees from more than 130 municipal companies.
Verdi has said its current talks over public transport workers’ contracts have stalled as it pushes for reduced working hours and more leave.
Berlin’s public transport operator BVG has called the strike action “unnecessary and completely exaggerated”.
Don't miss out on any breaking news or insightful opinions!
Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay updated on the go!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Global Banking & Finance Review. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.
Faced with persistently high inflation, Europe’s largest economy has seen a number of strikes that have also impacted air travel and railways.
Commuters could soon face more industrial action on the railways after weeks-long talks between the GDL train drivers’ union and Deutsche Bahn collapsed on Thursday evening.
(Reporting by Miranda Murray and Bartosz Dabrowski, editing by Rachel More and Andrew Heavens)
Uma Rajagopal has been managing the posting of content for multiple platforms since 2021, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune. Her role ensures that content is published accurately and efficiently across these diverse publications.
