Widespread ver.di Strikes Disrupt Public Transport in Berlin and Baden-Württemberg on February 2, 2026

On February 2, 2026, ver.di initiated extensive warning strikes affecting public transport across major German cities, notably Berlin and several key cities in Baden-Württemberg. The strikes, part of ver.di's demand for higher allowances for overtime, night work, and weekend shifts for roughly 6,700 employees, led to significant service disruptions.

In Berlin, ver.di's strike targeted the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). From 3 AM Monday until 3 AM Tuesday, no U-Bahn, buses, or trams operated on BVG lines. However, some bus lines, including the 106, 114, 118, 124, 133, 175, 184, 204, 234, 275, 316, 318, 326, 161, 358, 363, and the night lines N12, N23, N35, N39, N53, N61, N69, N84, N91, N95, and N97, continued service since they are operated by companies not affected by the strike. BVG also warned passengers of potential service disruptions immediately before and after the strike period.

In Baden-Württemberg, large-scale strikes similarly impacted cities such as Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Freiburg, Baden-Baden, Esslingen, and Konstanz. Most bus and train services in these cities were suspended, except for certain privately operated lines that remained active. Notably, Deutsche Bahn's regional services did not experience interruptions during the strike. The union conveyed its demands for improved compensation packages ahead of the next wage negotiation round scheduled for February 9.

These coordinated strikes across 15 federal states reflect the union’s effort to leverage public transport disruptions to negotiate better working conditions and pay for public transport workers. The widespread impact notably affected commuters and residents relying heavily on public transit in major urban centers.