local transport at a standstill in almost the entire country due to a strike

This social movement follows strikes in German airports and train stations, and adds to a massive mobilization of farmers.

Buses, metros and trams at the stop. Local transport was blocked in most cities in Germany on Friday February 2, due to a strike by local transport employees, which adds to the long list of social movements in the country.

“In all major German cities, with the exception of Bavaria, 100% of public transport is at a standstill”, declared Andreas Schackert, an official of the Verdi union, without giving the number of participants in the strike. The union called “90,000 employees” of “132 local businesses” to a day of strike until Saturday around three o’clock in the morning.

The Verdi union is currently conducting industry negotiations with employer representatives in the public transport sector, which cover wages and working conditions. Employee representatives are demanding in particular a reduction in working hours without loss of income and a 35-hour week for employees in the sector, demands for the moment rejected by employer representatives.

Many social conflicts

Germany, renowned for the quality of social dialogue, has seen an increase in social conflicts in recent months, in a context of deterioration in purchasing power following inflation. Several airports in Germany were paralyzed on Thursday by a strike by security staff, and last week the country was hit by a strike by train drivers at state-owned operator Deutsche Bahn.

The next strike could concern the airline Lufthansa. These social movements, to which is added the massive mobilization of farmers opposed to a reform of taxation on diesel, are also weakening the government coalition of Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, struggling with record unpopularity.