Many German cities and towns are expected to face major disruptions in public transport today, that is, 2 February, 2026, after the labour union Ver.di called for workers to go on strike. The union, which represents almost one lakh employees in 150 municipal transport and bus companies, is demanding better working conditions.
Public transport staff are reportedly under heavy strain due to long and irregular working hours, constant shift work, and high time pressure. According to Ver.di these conditions are resulting in high staff turnover and making it difficult to attract skilled workers. The union is negotiating across all 16 German states, mainly with municipal transport companies and bus operators.
Its demands include shorter weekly hours, reduced shift lengths, longer rest periods, and higher pay for night and weekend work. In some states such as Bavaria, Brandenburg, Saarland, and Thuringia, wage increases are also part of the talks.
So far, employers have rejected most of the union’s proposals. This has led Ver.di to escalate pressure through strikes. The dispute does not affect intercity train services run by Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator, but local buses, trams, and municipal transport systems will be hit.
The union argues that improvements are urgently needed to reduce stress on workers, lower turnover, and make public transport jobs more attractive. Collective bargaining talks are ongoing, but the strike highlights the growing tension between workers seeking relief from tough conditions and employers resisting changes.
Germany’s public transport system will see widespread disruption as workers push for shorter hours, better rest, and fairer pay, while employers remain reluctant to agree to these demands.
