Berlin Public Transport Faces 48-Hour Warning Strike by Verdi Union

Extensive Disruptions Expected Across Berlin

Berlin is bracing for significant disruptions to its public transport network as the Verdi trade union has called for a 48-hour warning strike affecting the city's main operator, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). The strike is scheduled to commence on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 3 AM, and will continue until Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 3 AM. This industrial action is expected to bring most buses, trams, and subways (U-Bahn) to a standstill across the German capital.

Commuters are advised that services operated by S-Bahn and regional trains, which fall under Deutsche Bahn, will not be affected by the strike. Additionally, certain bus lines and ferries operated by other companies on behalf of BVG are also expected to run as usual.

Verdi's Demands Focus on Working Conditions

The strike marks the second such warning strike in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between Verdi and BVG. Unlike previous disputes, the current talks are primarily focused on improving working conditions for employees, rather than salary increases.

The union's key demands include:

• More vacation days
• Increased vacation pay
• A minimum rest period of eleven hours between shifts

Christine Behle, Deputy Chairman of Verdi, emphasized the urgency of their demands, stating, 'Employers still do not understand that there can no longer be a functioning public transport service if we do not decisively improve working conditions now.' She added that 'The colleagues urgently need relief, and the employers need a clear signal that we are determined to fight for our demands.'

BVG Condemns Strike as 'Disproportionate Escalation'

In response to the announced strike, BVG has publicly condemned the action, labeling it a 'completely disproportionate escalation.' The transport operator maintains that negotiations in Berlin are proceeding within the agreed schedule. BVG also stated that the union is insisting on 'non-financeable maximum demands,' indicating a deadlock in the current discussions.

This strike in Berlin is part of a broader nationwide public transport warning strike initiated by Verdi, impacting municipal transport companies across various German states.