The public transportation network in Germany is witnessing a state of chaos with the launch of a series of strikes targeting local bus and train services since the early hours of Friday morning.
A spokesman for the “Verdi” union confirmed to the German News Agency (DPA) that the strikes began at 03:00 am (02:00 GMT) in Berlin, specifically at the Berlin Transport Company (“BVG”), which is the largest operator of local transport services in the country. The union has called for a halt to work in almost all German states.
Services operated by municipal transportation companies are expected to be halted in many cities for most of the day. The strikes began in the early hours of Friday morning and will likely continue until the early hours of Sunday morning, depending on the region.
Some local carriers have already announced the activation of emergency operating schedules to limit the impact on passengers.
This strike represents the second escalation at the national level in the ongoing round of collective negotiations. It is noteworthy that the previous strike, which was organized on February 2, led to an almost complete cessation of local public transportation services in large areas of Germany.
