Public Transport Workers to Strike on March 3
German Public Transport workers, under labor union Ver.di, announced further strikes for Friday, 3rd March. This comes just one day after the public sector strikes on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers stranded.
Public Transport Disruptions
Local public transport workers’ strike on 3 March will impact six states:
- Baden-Württemberg,
- Saxony,
- Hesse,
- Lower Saxony,
- Rhineland-Palatinate, &
- North Rhine-Westphalia.
These regions will have disruptions in the bus & train networks.
A likely consequence would be an increase in the demand for alternate sources of transportation. Private vehicle usage will probably increase, resulting in cramped roadways.
More Join the Cause
Fridays for Future
The Fridays for Future have also joined the protests with a declaration that they would support the week’s strike to urge the government to increase funding for environmentally friendly transportation.
Deutsche Bahn Workers Threaten Strike
The employees of the Deutsche Bahn, the railway company, have also been motivated by the ongoing strikes. The railway employees have threatened to go on strike if the EVG (Railway and Transport Union) does not accede to their petitions for a pay rise.
The collective bargaining talks between the Deutsche Bahn & the EVG also started this Tuesday. Among the various demands is a 12% wage increase, combined with the negotiation promise after twelve months.
The Strike Continues
Ver.di is fighting for the rights of workers. They want a 10.5% rise for employees, or a minimum of €500 more each month. Additionally, they demand a guarantee of renewed negotiations for next year. Following the strike on Tuesday, Ver.di said that the offer they got from management was “a slap in the faces of workers.”
Christine Behle, vice-Chairwoman of Ver.di claimed that while more people are using their transportation services, the bus and subway drivers are not fairly compensated. They are expected to work longer hours without any pay increase, especially with the current inflation.
The strikes to increase wages have been ongoing for a few weeks now. Despite this, the union and the management’s conversations have yet to find common ground. Transportation difficulties are likely to persist.
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