Berlin's transport chaos looms as 5,200 BVG workers launch 48-hour strike
Berlin's public transport will grind to a halt this weekend as around 5,200 BVG workers stage a 48-hour warning strike. The walkout, called by the ver.di trade union, begins on Friday, February 27, 2026, affecting buses, trams, and U-Bahn services across the city. Talks between the union and BVG have stalled over demands for better working conditions and job protections.
The strike follows weeks of tense negotiations between ver.di and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). The union accuses the company of pushing for concessions, including cuts to sick pay supplements and reduced worker influence over schedules. Ver.di's lead negotiator, Serat Canyurt, stressed that this round of talks aims to safeguard existing rights rather than win new benefits.
BVG, however, insists negotiations are progressing as planned. The company claims it will present a formal proposal once ver.di clarifies its key demands. Meanwhile, BVG has criticized the strike as excessive, arguing that ver.di's actions fail to consider Berlin's economic realities.
The dispute comes less than a year after the last collective bargaining agreement, which secured pay rises and a 35-hour workweek for BVG staff by 2027. This time, ver.di is pushing for additional holiday days, an 11-hour minimum rest period, higher vacation pay, and extended turnaround times. Further talks are scheduled for March 4 and 5, but no resolution is expected before the strike begins.
Commuters should prepare for disruptions, as subway trains, trams, and buses will remain in depots during the 48-hour stoppage. The last major strike, on February 2, 2026, centered on preserving allowances, though its outcomes remain unclear.
The warning strike will disrupt travel for thousands of Berliners starting Friday. With negotiations set to resume next week, both sides remain far apart on key issues. Until then, BVG services will stay suspended, leaving the city's transport network at a standstill.
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