Strike arm in NRW: public transport stands still on Friday - you need to know!

Strike arm in NRW: public transport stands still on Friday - you need to know!

On Friday, February 28, 2025, there are considerable strikes in local public transport (public transport) in North Rhine-Westphalia. These have been proclaimed by the Verdi union and are a reaction to the lack of offer of employers in the previous collective bargaining. It is expected that around 25,000 employees will take part in the strikes after no user offered in the second round of negotiations. This affects a total of around 53,000 employees from 69 companies that are bound to the development of wages in the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD). The strikes are expected to last 24 hours and start with the start of operation on Friday until the following day, usually at 3 a.m. This message reports on the platform 24rhein .

Affected by the strikes are several transport companies in North Rhine -Westphalia. These include the Bochum Gelsenkirchen trams (Bogestra), the vestic trams and the tram Herne-Castrop-Rauxel. In these regions, buses and trains are expected to have a long -term failure. More information on the exact failures can be obtained via the online timetable information of the corresponding transport companies.

claims of the union

The Verdi union calls for:

• 8% wage increase, but at least 350 euros per month.
• increase in surcharges for stressful activities.
• raising the training allowances and internship fees for 200 euros per month.
• three additional free days.
• Introduction of a "my time account" to increase flexibility.

These demands are the result of the continuous warning strikes that have been carried out for three weeks in order to increase the pressure on employers. The tariff negotiations guided so far seem to remain without progress, which also exacerates the situation for those affected. The next negotiation date is scheduled for the period from March 14 to 16, 2025 in Potsdam.

extended context of the strikes

In the industry there was already a comprehensive public transport industry on February 21, 2025 in several federal states, including Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. Common rallies from Verdi members from various areas were observed in many places. This underlines the broad support in the workforce and the urgency of the topics on the agenda. The blockade of the employers, as criticized by Maike Schollenberger, deputy head of the district of Verdi-Baden-Württemberg, contributes to increased tensions within the negotiations.

Verdi calls up the employees to join the strikes and to stand up for their rights and better working conditions. Even if Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies are not affected by these strikes and the regular operation of re, RB trains and S-Bahn trips are carried out, the effects on regional local transport are enormous. OPNV tickets of the striked companies can be used in certain framework conditions in DB trains, but only within the respective traffic associations.