Nationwide Verdi Strike Paralyzes Public Transport Across Germany

A nationwide strike in Germany's public transport system has brought operations to a near standstill, causing widespread disruption across numerous federal states. The Verdi union called for the strike, involving approximately 100,000 employees from 150 transport companies, beginning early Monday morning at 3:30 AM and lasting 24 hours.

The strike heavily affects major Bavarian cities such as Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Regensburg, Bamberg, Passau, Landshut, and Schweinfurt. In Augsburg, only eight trams and seven buses are running out of about 140 scheduled vehicles, with many U- and trams across Bavaria halted. S-Bahn services in Munich and Nuremberg remain operational since they are run by Deutsche Bahn, which is not part of the strike.

Public transport in other regions is similarly impacted, including Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt, Thüringen, Sachsen, Hessen, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where up to 80% of buses and trams are expected to be out of service. The only federal state exempt is Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), due to an existing peace obligation.

Verdi demands an average 12% wage increase, shorter working hours, longer rest periods, and enhanced allowances for night and weekend shifts, with regional specifics varying. Economists estimate the strike's economic impact at between 100 to 200 million euros per day in lost productivity and logistical setbacks, raising concerns about Germany’s economic image.

Despite the disruptions, Bavarian schools will continue classes normally; students unable to attend due to transport issues may be excused with prior notification.

Verdi’s nationwide strike underscores mounting tensions around labor conditions in Germany’s public transport sector, significantly inconveniencing millions of commuters and threatening substantial economic losses.