Germany Faces Nationwide Public Transport Shutdown Over Union Strikes
Public transport across much of Germany will grind to a halt this weekend as the ver.di trade union stages full-day warning strikes. The action begins at 3:00 AM on Friday, February 27, and continues until 5:59 AM on Sunday, February 28, 2026. The union is pushing for shorter working hours and the removal of proposed cuts to vacation time and sick pay benefits.
The strikes will disrupt services in nearly all German states, except Niedersachsen, Baden-Württemberg, and the cities of Bremerhaven, Aachen, and Wuppertal. Around 150 transport companies are involved, leaving countless cities and regions without buses, trams, or trains.
In Leipzig, the action will hit Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB) on both Friday and Saturday. LeoBus GmbH and Leipziger Aus- und Weiterbildungsbetriebe GmbH will also face stoppages. Dresden, Chemnitz, Zwickau, and Plauen will see public transport halted on Friday alone. Negotiations have stalled after employers refused to discuss working hours or withdraw plans to reduce vacation entitlements and sick pay supplements. Ver.di insists it remains open to compromise and would put any fair offer to a vote among employees. Further talks are scheduled for Thuringia on March 2, Saxony on March 9, and Saxony-Anhalt on March 17.
The strikes will last until just before 6:00 AM on Sunday. Commuters in affected areas should expect major delays or cancellations. The outcome of upcoming negotiations will determine whether further industrial action follows.
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