Berlin, Germany. Germany’s Verdi public sector union has called on local transport workers nationwide to stage a strike on February 27 and 28 to increase pressure in negotiations on wages and working conditions.
Scope of collective bargaining talks
Talks on a collective wage agreement affect about 150 bus, tram and local train companies with around 100,000 employees across German states, including the cities of Berlin and Hamburg.
Issues under negotiation
The negotiations cover working conditions, including working hours and shift work, allowances for night and weekend work, and salaries. Exact demands vary from state to state.
Union comments on progress
“The negotiations are hardly making any progress, even though there have been four rounds in some areas,” said the union’s deputy chair Christine Behle.
“It seems that employers still don’t understand that public transport services cannot continue to function in the long term if we don’t make decisive improvements,” she said.
How will the planned strike affect your local transport services on February 27 and 28?