Local transport in unrest: Verdi calls for strikes in Lower Saxony!

Local transport in unrest: Verdi calls for strikes in Lower Saxony!

The Verdi union has called for one-day work stoppages in local public transport, which are planned for Tuesday and Wednesday in numerous regions of Germany. As the South Germans reported that long waiting times for buses had already been recorded last Wednesday due to a previous strike. Around 2,500 employees were called on to go on strike.

Verdi negotiator Heiko Groppe sharply criticized the employer side and criticized the lack of an appropriate offer. The current offer to increase wages is seen as a step backwards compared to employees in municipal public transport. In the background there is also a growing shortage of skilled workers, which is putting a strain on the situation in local transport. According to a study by the Association of German Transport Companies, 80% of transport companies in Germany already have staff shortages.

Increasing shortage of skilled workers

The forecasts are alarming: an additional 20,000 drivers will be needed by 2030. Groppe warns of the possible consequences of a dumping tariff policy, which in the worst case could lead to a collapse in the transport service. Verdi rejected the offer from the Lower Saxony Local Transport Employers Association (AVN) as inadequate. Employees who are subject to the Lower Saxony transport company collective agreement earn significantly less than their colleagues in the local transport collective agreement (TV-N). Wages in driving services differ by up to 3.30 euros per hour.

In order to put pressure on employers, the strike date was set before the Abitur exams. This is intended to ensure increased participation by employees in the warning strikes. This strategy was already evident during the first all-day warning strike in local public transport on April 22, 2025, in which several companies were affected. These include KVG Braunschweig, KVG Stade and regional transport companies.

round of negotiations

Groppe is calling for wages to be equalized and expects progress from the next round of negotiations on May 28th. The last employer offer, which was presented on March 24, 2025, only provided for two minimal salary increases over a period of 36 months. This suggestion was rejected by Verdi as “completely inadequate”. Marian Drews, also from Verdi Lower Saxony-Bremen, highlights the better earning potential in other tariff areas.

The situation in local transport remains tense, and the coming strike week will show whether an agreement can be reached between the parties. The union appeals to the solidarity of the employees in order to achieve greater assertiveness in the negotiations and expects active participation in the announced protest actions.