Passengers in Bonn and the surrounding region should prepare for disruptions to public transportation this week as the Verdi union plans further strike action following a warning strike on Tuesday. Strikes are planned across several German states on Thursday, including North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), and further restrictions are expected in Bonn on Friday due to ongoing labor disputes.
Impact on Local Transit
According to Kenan Millihuzin, a union secretary for Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB) Bus and Bahn and Rhein-Sieg-Verkehrsgesellschaft (RSVG), no strike action is planned for Wednesday in Bonn itself. City and tram services, as well as buses, will operate according to schedule. However, lines 16 and 18, jointly operated by SWB and Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB), will be affected.
In Cologne, Verdi is calling on workshop employees to strike on Wednesday. KVB has announced that no trams will run in Cologne, as vehicles cannot be repaired or towed if they break down. Bus services will continue, but passengers should expect potential irregularities in the schedule.
SWB has confirmed that no Cologne trams will operate on lines 16 and 18 on Wednesday, but the connections will remain operational within Bonn, up to and including Buschdorf/Dransdorf.
Upcoming Disruptions
SWB has announced that its buses and trams will not run on Thursday from 3 a.m. Until the conclude of service. In addition to lines 16 and 18, no night buses will operate. However, some subcontractors will continue to operate, meaning bus service in Bonn will not be completely suspended. The service center is expected to remain closed.
Millihuzin has also called for a strike on Friday, affecting only the salaried employees at the Friesdorf depot. The strike is scheduled to begin with the earliest shift and end with the latest shift – approximately from 3 a.m. On Friday to 3 a.m. On Saturday.
Approximately 700 to 800 employees, including control and service staff and bus drivers, are expected to participate in Friday’s strike. This will result in trains running in Bonn, but buses will not. Subcontractors are also expected to remain in service. Employees at the Friesdorf depot plan to have a barbecue together starting at noon.
S-Bahn, regional, and long-distance trains, such as those operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), are not affected by the strikes. RSVG will also not be affected, with buses and trains running according to schedule in the district due to a different collective bargaining agreement. Subcontractor buses will continue to operate in Bonn. SWB has published the schedules for the warning strike days here. SWB also notes that the mobility guarantee will not apply on the warning strike days. ADAC recommends carpooling and using bicycles or sharing services for short distances.
School Attendance
The NRW Ministry of Education has previously stated that students are still required to attend school even during strikes affecting public transportation: “In the event of announced events such as a strike by public transport, the obligation to attend school continues to apply.”
The Core of the Dispute
The dispute centers on the working conditions of approximately 30,000 employees in around 30 municipal transport companies in NRW. Two rounds of negotiations have so far failed to yield an agreement. Verdi NRW is seeking to reduce the weekly working hours from 39 to 37 with full pay, increase rest periods between shifts from ten to eleven hours, and raise the Sunday work surcharge to at least 40 percent of the hourly wage.
The Kommunale Arbeitgeberverband Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW Municipal Employers’ Association) has accused Verdi of ignoring the dire financial situation of transport companies. The association maintains that working conditions and pay have already improved significantly and that public transport offers attractive employment opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reason for the strikes?
The strikes are due to stalled negotiations between Verdi and employers regarding the working conditions of approximately 30,000 employees in NRW’s municipal transport companies.
Will the S-Bahn be affected?
No, S-Bahn, regional, and long-distance trains, such as those operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), are not affected by the strikes.
What is Verdi demanding?
Verdi NRW wants to reduce the weekly working hours to 37 with full pay, increase rest periods between shifts, and raise the Sunday work surcharge.
As negotiations continue, commuters should stay informed about potential disruptions and plan their journeys accordingly.
