Massive Transit Strikes Cripple Public Transportation in North Rhine-Westphalia
Overview
On Friday, millions of commuters in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, faced significant disruptions to their daily commute as part of a warning strike organized by the trade union Verdi. The strike, involving 35,000 employees across more than 30 companies, aimed to put pressure on employers for higher wages and more free days.
Affected Areas
The strike impacted buses, trams, and subways in all major cities in NRW. According to Verdi spokesperson, no buses, trams, or subways were operating in Düsseldorf and surrounding areas, with school buses also being canceled. In Cologne, all subway lines were suspended, and only isolated bus routes were running. In Dortmund, all light rail and bus lines were also canceled.
Alternative Arrangements
Commuters were advised to check online timetables before traveling to find alternative routes or use different modes of transportation. Some commuters opted to walk to work or rent e-scooters. Despite the disruptions, there were no significant traffic jams on highways as many commuters likely opted to work from home or make alternative arrangements.
Unaffected Services
The strike did not affect train services, including S-Bahns, regional trains, and long-distance trains, which operated according to schedule.
Reasons for the Strike
Verdi and the Beamtenbund dbb (a confederation of public sector unions) are negotiating with the federal government and municipalities regarding wages and working hours for over 2.5 million employees nationwide. These employees work not only in administration but also in daycare centers, schools, universities, public transportation, waste management, and airports. Firefighters and federal police officers are also included.
Verdi is demanding an eight percent wage increase, or a minimum of €350 per month, and additional free days. The union argues that employees in public transportation are particularly overworked and understaffed, leading to increased workloads and stress.
Employer Response
Employers have not yet presented an offer in the two rounds of negotiations that have taken place. Municipalities, in particular, have expressed concerns about excessive financial burdens, citing the high debt levels of many cities and towns.
National Impact
Warning strikes in public transportation were also reported in several other German federal states, including Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Verdi estimates that a total of 53,000 employees in 69 companies across cities and districts were affected.
Next Steps
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 14-16 in Potsdam. Verdi intends to increase pressure on employers until then and has indicated that further warning strikes, including in municipal daycare centers, could occur in the coming weeks.
