Berlin Transport Union to Begin Strike
Berlin’s public transport staff go on strike today.
Berlin’s public transport system is set to face major disruptions as approximately 16,000 BVG workers go on strike for 48 hours from February 20 to 21. The strike, organized by the German trade union ver.di, will halt U-Bahn, bus, and tram services across the city. This marks the third strike in recent weeks, with ver.di demanding a €750 (approximately 785 USD) per month pay increase over 12 months, along with a Christmas bonus.
In the short term, the strike is expected to significantly impact daily commuters and businesses in Berlin, increasing pressure on city officials to intervene. While negotiations are set to resume on February 26, ver.di’s threat of unlimited strike action by March 21 raises the stakes for BVG management.
A prolonged labor dispute could shine a spotlight on broader concerns about wage stagnation in Germany’s public sector, potentially influencing the country’s upcoming federal elections. While the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) support higher wages and improved affordability, other parties like Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) have increasingly focused on broader economic issues. As such, the outcome of the election could have significant repercussions for Germany’s public sector employment policies and infrastructure funding, potentially altering the course of negotiations between labor unions and the government.
