Buses, trams and trains grind to a halt across Germany at start of two-day strike

A screen displays a message reading "Strike until Sunday, 3 am" at Alexanderplatz station, as trade union Verdi calls for a nationwide warning strike for higher wages and better working conditions, in Berlin, Germany, February 27, 2026. REUTERS/Christian Mang

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)