Millions of German commuters faced severe disruption on Monday as transport workers staged a coordinated 24-hour strike across airports, railways, buses, and metro lines. The walkout, called by the Verdi and EVG unions, is part of an escalating pay dispute driven by high inflation, which hit 8.7% in February.
The rare joint action brought much of Europe’s largest economy to a standstill. State-owned railway Deutsche Bahn suspended all long-distance trains and halted regional services in seven of Germany’s 16 federal states. Major airports, including Frankfurt and Munich, grounded flights, with the German airport association estimating 380,000 air travellers would be affected.
Verdi leader Frank Werneke acknowledged the strike would cause strain but argued it was necessary to secure a wage agreement. Verdi is demanding a 10.5% salary increase for its 2.5 million public sector members, while EVG seeks 12% for 230,000 railway and bus workers. Employers have offered a 5% rise plus one-off payments, which unions have rejected.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing ordered states to lift truck delivery restrictions and allowed late-night flights to mitigate supply gaps and help stranded passengers. Despite the disruption, roadside assistance association ADAC reported that many commuters worked from home, preventing a complete traffic breakdown.
Employers accused unions of fuelling inflation with excessive wage demands, but unions argued that workers are bearing the burden of rising living costs. The strike follows recent industrial action in postal services, airports, and local transport, and comes as a third round of public sector wage negotiations began on Monday with no improved offer from employers.
