Berlin commuters to face 48-hour public transport strike this week

The Verdi trade union announced on Monday that it is calling for workers from the public transport operator, Berliner Verkehrsbetrieben (BVG), to take part in a 48-hour public transport strike later this week.

It is the third round of strike action - and the longest - in the recent negotiations. The previous strikes - on January 27th and February 10th each lasted 24 hours. 

The industrial action will cause major disruption to people trying to get around the German capital.  

Most buses, the entire tram network, and U-Bahn services (the subway) will come to a standstill.

As during previous strikes, U-Bahn stations will remain closed.

READ MORE: How to get around Berlin during public transport strikes

The strike will begin at 3am on Thursday and run until 3am on Saturday morning.

But even after the action has concluded, services may still be irregular so passengers should expect further disruption. 

A statement from BVG said: "We ask for your understanding that services may still be irregular for a few hours after the end of the warning strike at around 3am on Saturday morning."

Public transport users in Berlin will be able to use the S-Bahn and regional trains, which are operated by Deutsche Bahn rather than BVG. 

Lines and services operated by other companies on behalf of BVG are also not affected by the strike.

What is the strike about?

The action is being held as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. 

The union is campaigning for better pay for around 16,600 employees at the state-owned BVG group.

Demands include salary increases of €750 per month over a period of 12 months, as well as a 13th salary and other bonuses. 

BVG recently presented an offer to Verdi that included a wage increase of 17.6 percent over the next four years. However, the Verdi bargaining committee rejected the offer.  

"BVG has still not understood that the employees will not accept a wage reduction in real terms," said Jeremy Arndt, Verdi negotiator at BVG. "That is why we are now increasing the pressure."

READ ALSO: Commuters in Berlin face disruption as fresh public transport strike announced

BVG slammed the union's renewed industrial action.

"We appeal to the Verdi union to withdraw the completely exaggerated 48-hour strike and work together at the negotiating table to achieve a good result," said a spokesperson from BVG.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place on Wednesday next. Verdi has given the BVG an ultimatum to submit a satisfactory offer by March 21st.

If a deal isn't reached by then, the union has threatened unlimited strikes, which could last much longer and cause huge disruption. 

It comes as a series of strikes affect public transport and services across Germany during a collective bargaining period. 

READ ALSO: Will Germany see more transport and public sector strikes?