City of Wermelskirchen is preparing for Verdi warning strike!

City of Wermelskirchen is preparing for Verdi warning strike!

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, citizens in Wermelskirchen are faced with possible restrictions in the public service. The reason for this is a warning strike from the Verdi union, which was announced throughout North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Rheinische-zeitung.de reports that the city administration will regularly be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The source pool is expected to open at the usual times, while operation in the city's daycare centers runs according to schedule. However, the authorities warn that the effects of the strike can be visible at short notice.

The city of Wermelskirchen is trying to ensure emergency operation in the daycare centers if necessary. However, there are already concrete restrictions for commuters in the Remscheid city area. While the Cologne (RVK) Regional Transport buses run regularly, the buses of the Remscheider Stadtwerke are completely canceled on Wednesday. The city asks those affected to search for alternative transport options. However, bus traffic in Remscheid should be resumed from Thursday morning at 4 a.m.

Effects of the strikes in NRW

The warning strikes in the public service are part of a nationwide campaign that already started in several NRW cities on March 11, 2025. Numerous buses and trains in Cologne, Bonn, the Rhein-Sieg district and in the Ruhr area are affected. wdr.de reports that traffic in the city centers of Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf is severely impaired and the highways are overloaded. The garbage disposal in Wuppertal is also out today, and patient care in two clinics in Essen is limited.

The Verdi union draws a positive record of the first strike days, especially in public transport and at the NRW airports. In Düsseldorf, 148 of 338 planned flights have failed, while more than 150 out of 170 planned flights were affected in Cologne/Bonn. A total of 3,500 flights were exposed to more than half a million passengers in Germany.

claims and reactions

Verdi demands an additional 8 percent wage increase in the ongoing negotiations and at least 350 euros. There are also additional free days on the list of demands. However, these requirements are a thorn in the side of the employers and they vehemently reject the suggestions. In addition, they are calling for a reform of strike right, especially with regard to the critical infrastructure.

Verdi plans further strike measures by March 14, while from March 14th to 16th the third tariff round in Potsdam is scheduled. In Dortmund, a rally with up to 5,000 participants is expected, while more demos are planned in several cities.

Overall, the current situation by the strikes in the public service and the associated restrictions are tense for both people in Wermelskirchen and for the citizens of all of North Rhine -Westphalia. The coming days will be crucial for the development of the tariff conflict.