In a surprising turn for Berlin’s commuters, a two-day transport strike will commence on Wednesday, March 26th, mirroring a recent disruption just last week. The city’s U-Bahn, trams, and most buses operated by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) will grind to a halt, marking the fourth strike this year. The timing follows a standoff after the sixth negotiation round between the Verdi trade union and BVG.
The strike will begin around 3 am, suspending operations until Friday morning. Passengers will be well-acquainted with the process, as all U-Bahn trains and trams will be offline. However, certain bus lines, including 106, 114, and 175, will continue service, albeit with limited operations on some others like 112 and 124. BVG’s ferries and the Muva service remain unaffected, as do S-Bahn trains operated by Deutsche Bahn.
The frequent strikes stem from a failure to reach a wage agreement, with Verdi demanding a €750 monthly increase for BVG employees along with bonuses. BVG has proposed a 13.6% wage rise spread over two years, but Verdi deems this insufficient. Criticism has flown both ways, with BVG condemning the strike and Verdi blaming employers and the Senate for prolonged disruptions.
Looking ahead, the possibility of indefinite strikes looms. Verdi has plans to conduct a ballot for indefinite action, contingent upon a majority of BVG workers rejecting the latest offer. This situation could spiral into prolonged strikes if negotiations falter.
As if the strike conditions weren’t challenging enough, ongoing traffic chaos due to construction closures exacerbates the situation. The shutdown of the Ringbahn bridge on the A100 has resulted in significant traffic congestion in western Berlin, complicating commute options for those relying on personal vehicles or S-Bahn, which have also been plagued by delays recently.
Berlin commuters are warned of a 48-hour transportation strike beginning March 26th, disrupting U-Bahn, trams, and most buses. The strike results from unresolved wage negotiations between the BVG and Verdi. Limited bus services will still operate, while S-Bahn trains remain unaffected. There are risks of further indefinite strikes as negotiations continue, compounded by current construction closures causing additional traffic issues.
The impending two-day transport strike in Berlin, marked by the shutdown of U-Bahn and trams, represents ongoing tensions between the BVG and Verdi over wage demands. With a multitude of services disrupted and the looming threat of indefinite action, commuters are faced with significant challenges. Coupled with traffic disruptions from construction closures, this scenario is a perfect storm for transport chaos in the city.
Original Source: www.thelocal.de
