Buses, trams and underground trains have been idling across most of Germany on Friday at the climax of a week of scattered public transport strikes set off by disputes over working hours.
The walkouts, planned by the Verdi union, have happened in 14 of the country’s 16 states, including Berlin. They were slated to happen in the capital at 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) but stretch into Saturday elsewhere.
Adding to the this brewing turmoil, the actions coincided on Friday with climate protests asking for greener transport in over 100 cities, organized by Fridays for Future and other green campaign groups.
It was the second wave of an almost-nationwide public transport strike in recent weeks called by Verdi, which represents about 90,000 employees from over 130 municipal companies.
Verdi has said its current talks over public transport workers’ contracts have slowed as it aims for lessened working hours and more leave vacations.
Meanwhile, BVG, Berlin’s public transport operator has called the strike action “unnecessary and completely aggrandised”.
Europe’s largest economy has been faving consistently high inflation that has led to a number of strikes that have also impacted air travel and railways.
Commuters may soon be facing more industrial action on the railways after weeks-long talks between the GDL train drivers’ union and Deutsche Bahn disintegrated on Thursday evening.
