Warning strike in local transport: Buses in four major cities in Schleswig-Holstein are at a standstill

Anyone who wants to take the city bus to work or school will have to look for an alternative in Schleswig-Holstein's four large cities of Kiel, Lübeck, Neumünster and Flensburg on Monday. The reason is another warning strike in local public transport, which the Verdi union has called for. The most important questions and answers at a glance.

When will there be a strike?

The Verdi union called on around 1,800 local public transport employees in Kiel, Lübeck, Flensburg and Neumünster to go on an all-day warning strike on Monday (September 21st) from the start of operations to the end of operations. The public bus companies in Kiel (KVG), Lübeck (Stadtverkehr Lübeck), Flensburg (Active Bus) and Neumünster (SWN) are affected.

Are there buses?

Given the current situation, passengers have to prepare for widespread cancellations. There will probably be no regular bus service in the four independent cities. “Everything is set,” says Verdi negotiator Sascha Bähring confidently. The union assumes that local transport will come to a standstill.

What concrete effects does this have for passengers?

For many people, the strike means significant restrictions on everyday life. Commuters, school students and other passengers have to prepare for massive cuts.

What should commuters do now?

Passengers should postpone unnecessary journeys or plan alternatives early on:

Use a car or carpool

Switch to a bicycle or e-scooter

If possible, work from home

Can students stay at home?

No. In principle, compulsory school attendance also applies during a strike. Parents have to organize the way to school. Absence can only be excused in justified exceptional cases.

Where can I find current information?

Passengers should obtain information from the relevant transport company before starting their journey - for example via websites, apps or social media.

Why is there a strike?

The background is the collective bargaining in local public transport. The second round of negotiations at the beginning of September also failed to deliver any results. For both collective bargaining areas, the Verdi union is calling for a 6.5 percent increase in wages for all employees, for a period of twelve months. Verdi wants a benefit scheme of 650 euros per year for union members.

What do employers offer?

The municipal employers' association has submitted an offer of 4.4 percent for 24 months. Managing director Jan Jacobsen points out that the collective bargaining on the collective bargaining agreement in the spring brought financial improvements for employees, such as higher bonuses. As a result, city buses were not running on several occasions in the spring during the dispute.

Collective bargaining in local public transport in Schleswig-Holstein is to continue on September 22nd.