On February 10 2026 the trade union ver.di announced a coordinated walkout across Niedersachsen and Bremen, calling all employees covered by the Länder collective agreement to strike today.
Scope of the walkout
Union officials say this is the first time in the current wage dispute that every sector is striking on the same day. Affected workplaces include the university hospitals in Hannover and Göttingen, the port operator NPorts and the state road‑construction administrations.
Transport disruptions
Ver.di also warned that a number of key bridges and tunnels will be blocked from midnight until midnight.
- Tunnel Bovenden (Landkreis Göttingen)
- Butterbergtunnel, Osterode (Landkreis Göttingen)
- Hasselkopftunnel, Braunlage (Landkreis Goslar)
- Jann‑Berghaus‑Brücke, B 436 in Leer – pedestrians and cyclists are exempt
- Schwingeklappbrücke, Stade
- Wesertunnel, Landkreise Wesermarsch and Cuxhaven – one lane of the A27 will be half‑closed and the speed limit reduced to 60 km/h in both directions
Winter service impact
The winter‑service crews in the northeastern districts of Lüneburg, Lüchow‑Dannenberg, Harburg and Uelzen will also join the strike. The state road‑construction authority says external firms will be hired to keep the service running, but delays are possible.
Demonstrations in Hannover and Bremen
Other unions – the police union, the education and science union and IG Bau – have announced parallel warning strikes. In Hannover a rally is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. At the Schützenplatz, followed by speeches in front of the state parliament at 11:30 a.m. In Bremen a rally will take place at 11:45 a.m. In front of the finance senator’s office.
Hospital response
Both the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) and the Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (UMG) confirmed participation in the strike. They assure that emergency patients will continue to receive adequate care.
Negotiation context
One day after the strike, on Wednesday, a third round of collective‑bargaining talks will start in Potsdam and is slated to last three days. Ver.di is demanding a 7 % wage increase – or at least €300 – for more than 280 000 public‑sector employees in Niedersachsen, and Bremen. State representatives have rejected the demand as excessive, citing tight budgets.
What could happen next?
If the negotiations in Potsdam do not produce a compromise, ver.di may extend the warning strike beyond Wednesday, potentially affecting additional public services. Continued disruptions to transport routes could prompt the states to seek legal injunctions or to negotiate interim agreements on specific sectors. Conversely, a tentative settlement could lead to a de‑escalation of actions and the restoration of normal operations within days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sectors are participating in today’s strike?
All employees under the Länder collective agreement in Niedersachsen and Bremen are called to strike, including staff at university hospitals, the NPorts port operator, state road‑construction administrations and winter‑service crews.
What are the union’s main demands?
Ver.di is demanding a 7 % pay rise – or at least €300 – for more than 280 000 public‑sector workers in the two states, arguing that current salaries do not keep pace with living costs.
Will emergency medical services be affected?
Both the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover and the Universitätsmedizin Göttingen have stated that emergency patients will continue to be cared for adequately during the strike.
How do you think today’s actions will influence the upcoming bargaining talks?
