February 2, 2026
Public transit strikes set to cause widespread disruption
Many bus, trams and underground services in Germany will not be operating on Monday amid a nationwide strike by the trade union Verdi.
Millions of employees and schoolchildren who rely on public transport will be forced to find alternative methods of getting to work or school, with wintry weather conditions adding to their problems.
All 16 German states bar one, Lower Saxony, where employees have agreed not to strike for now, are to be initially affected by the industrial action, Verdi said.
Employees of national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) will not be taking part in the strike, meaning that its train services are expected to run without restrictions.
“The suburban commuter trains in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Nuremberg, Rhein-Main [the Frankfurt metropolitan area] and the regional and long-distance services of DB are not represented by Verdi as a company and are therefore not affected by the strike,” DB said.
Verdi is demanding improvements to working conditions, including shorter working weeks and shifts and longer rest periods.
It is also calling for higher bonuses for nighttime and weekend shifts.
According to the union, negotiations are also taking place on higher wages and salaries in the states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Saarland and Thuringia, and at the Hamburg underground network.
