
Friday, 24 January
Berlin at a standstill: Verdi calls all-day BVG strike on Monday
Berliners, brace yourselves for Monday. Public transport workers at BVG will stage a full-day warning strike, disrupting buses, trams, and U-Bahn services across the city. The strike, organised by union Verdi, is part of an ongoing wage dispute and is expected to cause massive inconveniences for commuters.
The strike will begin in the early hours of Monday and end Tuesday at 3am, though traffic could be irregular for hours afterwards. Most BVG buses, trams, and U-Bahns will halt, but select bus lines operated by subcontractors will still run.
With BVG services out of action, increased traffic on roads is to be expected throughout the city, including on bicycle paths and footpaths. Key congestion points include Alexanderplatz, Ostkreuz, and major routes like Karl-Marx-Straße and Hindenburgdamm. City authorities recommend allowing extra travel time and checking live traffic updates.
Verdi said the warning strike was a reaction to the delaying strategies of the BVG board in the negotiations. Verdi demands 750 euros more per month, a 13th month paycheck and increased allowances, totaling 250 million euros annually. BVG has called the demands “unrealistic,” citing financial constraints, but Verdi claims that Berlin is now at the bottom of the list in Germany when it comes to pay. Negotiations are set to resume on January 31, but Monday’s strike signals escalating tensions.
For Monday, it’s best to plan alternate routes – or perhaps, stay home.