Strikes paralyze local trains in half of Germany
03/03/2023
The warning strikes called by the Ver.di services union paralyzed local trains in seven German states this Friday (03.03.2023), including the two most populous North Rhine-Westphalia (west) and Bavaria (south).
The long-distance bus routes of these federal states as well as those of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate (both in the west), Lower Saxony (centre), Baden-Württemberg (south) and Saxony (east) are also affected by the partial failures.
The mobilizations are part of the campaign called by Ver.di for warning strikes by the entire public sector, which have temporarily affected or paralyzed the airports in Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Düsseldorf since the beginning of the year.
The collective bargaining conflict affects around 2.5 million public sector employees who are dependent on both the federal and local governments. Ver.di demands a salary increase of 10.5 percent or at least 500 euros per month, based on the cumulative inflation and the real loss of purchasing power.
The last round of negotiations a week ago did not result in any rapprochement between the employers and this union. Employers have criticized the call for this new round of strikes which, with 250 demonstrations across the country, also coincides with the protest day of the movement against climate change “Fridays for Future” and will affect citizens’ mobility until the weekend. (EFE)