Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 27, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleA nationwide 48‑hour strike by Verdi starting February 27, 2026, brought local buses, trams and U‑Bahn services across Germany to a halt. The walkout involved around 100,000 workers pushing for better pay, conditions and shift terms.
BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Buses, trams and trains across Germany ground to a halt early Friday as local transport workers heeded a call by the Verdi public sector union to stage a strike on February 27 and 28.
The union is aiming to gain leverage in negotiations that cover working conditions, specifically working hours and shift work, allowances for night and weekend work, as well as salaries. Exact demands vary from state to state.
Talks on a collective wage agreement affect about 150 bus, tram and local train companies with around 100,000 employees in states across Germany, including the cities of Berlin and Hamburg.
(Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Michael Perry)
Local buses, trams and U‑Bahn trains across Germany, including Berlin and Hamburg, were halted, while regional, S‑Bahn and long‑distance Deutsche Bahn services continued (though overcrowded).
Verdi demanded improvements in working conditions: reduced working hours, shift length adjustments, longer rest periods, and higher night/weekend work allowances and pay.
The strike lasted two days — from early Friday, February 27, 2026, through Saturday, February 28, 2026.
About 100,000 employees across approximately 150 bus, tram and local train companies were involved nationwide.
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