College round at BVG: Verdi announces two-day warning strike in Berlin’s local transport

Due to another warning strike by the Verdi union, passengers in Berlin’s local transport will have to adjust to considerable restrictions from Thursday morning. Verdi said that the bus, tram and subway traffic in the capital is once again largely coming to a standstill. It is the third and longest outstanding in the ongoing tariff dispute with the Berlin transport companies (BVG). The previous warning strikes each lasted 24 hours.

Verdi is planning a large demonstration in the capital for the second day of strike on Friday. The public service employees, for which Verdi with the federal and state governments with the federal government and municipalities, are also called on for new tariffs.

Employees with a current offer dissatisfied

Verdi justified the renewed industrial action with the dissatisfaction of the employees about the current offer of the employer side. “The BVG still has not understood that the employees will not accept a reduction in real wage,” said negotiator Jeremy Arndt. “That is why we are now further increasing the pressure.” The BVG described the union’s renewed industrial action as completely exaggerated.

The union demands 750 euros more for the approximately 16,000 employees per month with a term of twelve months. In addition, she demands a 13th monthly salary to a driving service or exchange allowance in the amount of 300 euros and a layer allowance of 200 euros.

The employer had recently expanded its own offer and has since offered 17.6 percent more money over a term of four years until the end of 2028. It wants to retrospectively assure employees to 1, January 2025 a fixed amount of 225 euros per month. In the following years, the monthly content then increases by 2.5 percent. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for next week.