Overview
- Monday’s warning strike largely idled buses, trams and subways nationwide, while S‑Bahn services and Deutsche Bahn’s regional and long‑distance trains continued to run.
- Niedersachsen was exempt because a still‑valid peace obligation bars strikes there until March 31 after a late contract termination notice.
- Verdi targeted roughly 100,000 workers at about 150 municipal operators for a 24‑hour stoppage intended to increase pressure before regional bargaining rounds resume.
- The union’s core push centers on shorter weekly working time in several states, shorter shifts, longer rest periods and higher night and weekend premiums, with some regions also negotiating notable pay increases.
- Employers and business groups criticized the action and urged tighter strike rules, while left‑leaning parties and local allies voiced support for the workers’ demands; services restarted on Tuesday and further steps have not been ruled out.