Suspending Operations: BVG to Cease Transport Services for 48 Hours Starting Thursday and Friday
Wednesday, February 19
All Aboard the Disruption: BVG to Shut Down Service for 48 Hours This Weekend
Here we go again! After five grueling weeks of negotiations, the Verdi union and BVG have failed to see eye-to-eye on wages. In a jaw-dropping announcement, the union has declared a third—and longest—strike yet, immobilizing Berlin's buses, trams, and subways for an eye-watering 48 hours this Thursday and Friday.
This strike is nearly twice the duration of the previous walkout, kicking off at 3:00 AM Thursday (the crack of dawn for BVG workers) and running until 3:00 AM Saturday. Don't worry, though, Berliners, your S-Bahn is safe—it's operated by Deutsche Bahn, remember?
The root cause of this dispute: money, baby! BVG has proposed a 17.6% increase in wages over four years, but Verdi believes this amounts to a real-deal pay cut, and ain't buyin' it.
If no resolution is reached by the fifth round of talks, whoa, nestle in for some serious turbulence. The union has issued a stern warning: indefinite strikes are a very real possibility, further escalating the chaos on Berlin's transport network.
Here's the harsh reality: Long gone are the days when Berlin's public transport services ran like a well-oiled machine. Now, it's more like a circus—only instead of clowns, there are traffic jams and frustrated commuters.
A Little Contextual History Lesson
- Uncertain Future: Although the series of 2025 major strikes by BVG workers subsided after a compromise agreement, underlying tensions persist, and sporadic disruptions like traffic and lift outages continue, due to operational issues.
- Compromised Agreement: Earlier in the year, following a wave of strikes, BVG workers agreed to a wage increase of €430 per month instead of the demanded €750, with no reduction to drivers' working hours (at a maximum of 39 hours per week).
- Minor Current Disruptions: As of June 2025, BVG's website lists some traffic and lift service disruptions. However, these are operational or maintenance-related incidents, not fresh strike actions.
In short, if no further agreement is reached, the risk of renewed strikes and commuting hell is realer than a hangover on a Monday morning. Stay tuned, Berliners, this is far from over! 🚎
- The ongoing dispute between the Verdi union and BVG, involving wages and policies, is causing turbulence in Berlin's politics, as another 48-hour strike is set to disrupt the city's general news this coming Thursday and Friday.
- In the face of potential indefinite strikes, the future of Berlin's policy-and-legislation regarding public transport services remains unclear, with significant implications for the city's politics and general news.
