Public Service Strikes Cause Major Disruptions in Germany
Braunschweig:
- All buses and trams remained in depots, leaving the city without public transportation.
- Multiple daycare centers and indoor swimming pools were closed.
- Klinikum Braunschweig operated with limited emergency services.
- 1,500 demonstrators gathered at Schlossplatz to support the strike organized by Verdi.
Regional Impact:
- In Landkreis Peine, all buses operated by Peiner Verkehrsgesellschaft (PVG) and Kraftverkehr Mundstock (KVM) were canceled.
- Oldenburg’s hospital was on strike, while Wolfenbüttel experienced disruptions in daycare services, waste collection, utilities, and job centers.
- Other affected regions included Celle and Heidekreis, with work stoppages reported.
Lüneburg:
- The civil servants’ union dbb called for a strike among healthcare workers and road maintenance staff.
- 200 participants rallied in front of the Psychiatric Hospital during the demonstration.
- Dbb and Verdi represent public sector employees at the ongoing negotiations.
Hannover:
- On Tuesday, strikes halted bus and rail services in Hanover.
- Waste collection services were also affected.
- Several daycare centers and childcare facilities closed or operated with reduced capacity in Hildesheim.
Upcoming Actions:
- The strikes continue on Thursday, targeting Wolfsburg, Göttingen, and Hanover once more.
- Work stoppages are planned in the districts of Gifhorn, Helmstedt, Verden, Northeim, Nienburg, and Grafschaft Bentheim.
Wolfsburg and Göttingen:
- Public transportation services are expected to cease in Wolfsburg and Göttingen.
Hannover:
- This time, the strikes will affect daycare centers, municipal administration, and other public services.
- All municipal daycare centers, indoor swimming pools, and several citizen service offices will be closed.
Lüneburg Extension:
- From Friday, Verdi is calling for a three-day strike among employees of the Federal Waterway and Shipping Administration in Lüneburg, lasting until Sunday.
Negotiation Demands:
- Verdi is demanding an 8% wage increase and more flexible working hours.
- Employers have cited strained budgets as a concern.
Previous Strikes:
- The current strikes follow a series of warning strikes aimed at putting pressure on the government and municipalities ahead of the second round of negotiations, scheduled for next Monday in Potsdam.
