In the state capital of Munich, the Verdi union wants to largely paralyze local public transport for two days.
Munich (dpa / lby) – Due to a warning strike by the Verdi union, local public transport in Munich is largely at a standstill. The subway and tram did not initially go into operation on Thursday. In the course of the day, one route each – the U6 and the Tram 20 – was served, as the municipal transport company MVG announced. However, she expected that operations would have to be stopped again in the evening. About every second bus vehicle was in use, but individual lines were completely canceled. The S-Bahn and regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn were not affected by the warning strike.
The MVG appealed to the residents of the state capital on Thursday morning to use other means of transport. Many employees apparently switched to cars, and the Google Maps map service showed major traffic jams on several main roads early on. There were also numerous cyclists on the road in the morning.
Verdi is demanding a hefty wage increase of 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros a month, and MVG taking over the Bavarian regional transport tariff.
The two-day warning strike runs in cooperation with climate groups. Members of the “Anti-Capitalist Climate Meeting” blocked a bus depot for two hours early Thursday morning to prevent non-striking drivers from exiting. The group announced this after the end of the campaign. According to the MVG, the effects were limited. Strikers are also to take part in the Fridays for Future demonstration planned for Friday in Munich. The organization expects 4,000 to 8,000 participants in the state capital.
Fears that the warning strike could also delay the Wirecard process for alleged fraud involving billions were not fulfilled. The chamber had feared that the defense lawyers would not be able to make it to court on time. But this did not happen.
On Friday, Verdi wants to extend the warning strike in local transport to other regions and cities: Middle Franconia, Augsburg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Bamberg and Bayreuth should then be affected by all-day warning strikes. Demonstrations by Fridays for Future are also planned in these cities on Friday. According to the organization’s German website, several dozen campaigns were announced in Germany on Friday.
The trade union is also continuing to put pressure on the parallel wage negotiations in the public sector. Garbage collection and recycling centers should also be on strike in Munich and Augsburg.
