BVG strike from Thursday for 48 hours

Passengers travelling on Berlin's public transport network will have to prepare for considerable restrictions from Thursday morning due to another warning strike by the Verdi trade union.

According to Verdi, bus, tram and underground services in the capital will largely come to a standstill for around 48 hours with the start of the shift at around 3am. It is the third and so far longest strike in the ongoing wage dispute with the Berlin transport company (BVG). The previous warning strikes lasted 24 hours each.

Threat of indefinite strikes

Passengers should expect all underground trains and trams as well as most bus routes to be cancelled during the warning strike, the statement continued. The Berlin S-Bahn is not affected by the warning strike. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for next week on Wednesday. Verdi has given the BVG an ultimatum until 21 March. If the company does not fulfil the union's demands by the fifth round of negotiations on that day, there will be indefinite strikes, it said.