© dpa
A large-scale warning strike in the transport sector next Monday will also affect regional and suburban rail services in Berlin and Brandenburg.
BER Airport will not be subject to a direct strike, as the Verdi trade union and the Railway and Transport Workers' Union (EVG) announced on Thursday. Nevertheless, the effects of the warning strikes at other German airports are likely to be felt there as well.
The BVG will also not go on strike, as its employees have a valid collective agreement, the transport company announced on Thursday. Commuters will thus have an alternative to the regional and S-Bahn services in the capital, which are expected to be at a standstill. The Berlin passenger association IGEB appealed to travelers to switch to BVG services such as subway trains, buses or trams if possible. In Brandenburg in particular, he said, the cancellation of the S-Bahn had far-reaching consequences for many passengers. According to spokesman Jens Wieseke, the right to strike is important, but a basic service must be ensured even during a strike. "In such cases, an S-Bahn should run every 20 minutes until it reaches a subway station in the Berlin metropolitan area."
In the Verdi organizational area, employees at all German commercial airports except Berlin are called to strike. "No warning strikes have been announced at BER Airport for March 27," the Berlin-Brandenburg airport company announced. "Nevertheless, passengers must expect significant restrictions. For example, there may be severe disruptions to arrivals and departures due to the warning strikes in public transport." In flight operations, cancellations are to be expected, especially when it comes to domestic German air traffic.
Verdi and EVG called for nationwide warning strikes in the transport sector for the upcoming Monday. Long-distance and regional traffic is likely to come to a standstill throughout the country, as well as air and shipping traffic. The autobahn company is also affected, which is why tunnels could be closed in some places.