The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) has declared its full solidarity with ver.di (United Services Trade Union, Germany) members who are striking nationwide today across Germany’s municipal public transport companies. The action affects nearly 100,000 employees in 150 transport companies and highlights a growing crisis in the sector.
The Heart of the Dispute
Ver.di’s demands centre on a fundamental issue: working conditions in urban public transport must improve. Workers are currently facing enormous strain from long working hours, demanding shift patterns, and relentless time pressure. These conditions have created a vicious cycle – high turnover rates lead to severe labour shortages, which in turn put additional pressure on remaining staff and threaten the provision of local transport as an essential public service.
Despite the clear need for reform, employers have rejected almost every proposal to improve working conditions. More concerning still, some companies are proposing measures that would actually increase workloads, including longer shifts and the elimination of sick pay supplements—short-sighted decisions that threaten both worker wellbeing and passenger safety.
A Europe-Wide Challenge
The situation in Germany reflects a broader crisis across European public transport systems. Poor working conditions have created severe staffing shortages across the continent, undermining a sector central to climate protection, mobility, and economic development.
A new study by ver.di and Climate Alliance Germany, “The Mobility Transition Needs Good Work,” provides compelling evidence for reform. The research demonstrates that improvements in working and rest time are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.
“Across Europe, urban public transport workers keep our cities and communities moving,” said Dirk Schloemer, chair of the ETF Urban Public Transport Committee. “Despite this, public transport workers face deteriorating working conditions and wages. ETF calls on German employers to negotiate in good faith with ver.di to ensure these essential workers receive the respect they deserve.”
Francesca di Felice, vice-chair of ETF’s urban public transport committee, added: “Without public transport workers, our cities would stop. Yet every day they face high amounts of stress caused by long working hours, aggression, and violence. Employers have an obligation to ensure their employees’ well-being, yet this responsibility is too often ignored. Solidarity from Italy to our German friends!”
The Path Forward
The ETF, representing over 5 million workers across all forms of transport in Europe, supports ver.di’s determination to win better conditions for its members. The message is clear: unless employers and policymakers take workers’ demands seriously, labour shortages will only worsen, and the future of public transport as we know it will be at risk.
