A day-long strike in the transport sector announced in Germany
Germany is bracing for major disruptions to transport nationwide on Monday after unions called for a day-long strike in the transport sector. No long-distance trains will operate and most regional rail will be canceled, DW reports.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn on Thursday announced that no long-distance trains would operate on Monday due to nationwide transport strikes.
The decision came after the trade unions EVG and Verdi announced strike action intended to paralyze large sections of the public transport system.
The strikes come with German employees in many sectors seeking significant wage hikes to keep up with persistently high inflation.
The two labor unions, representing thousands of workers, called for the major transport strike as part of their drive for better wages.
The one-day action will affect trains, planes, maritime shipping and local transit.
The strikes are the latest in a series of protests by the transport unions in recent months. It comes as Germans struggle with an inflation rate of over 8% after Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed up food and energy prices.
Frank Werneke, head of Verdi, said the strike would have a "massive effect" across the country.
Nearly 380,000 passengers "will not be able to take their flights" due to the strikes, ADV, the German airport association, warned. Around 120,000 Verdi employees working in all German airports except for Berlin, local transit workers in seven of Germany's 16 states, and highway and port workers, are expected to participate in the walkout.
The strike is scheduled to start at midnight Monday and will impact services throughout the day.
