In Baden-Württemberg, a three-day strike will disrupt bus and train services — The Local Germany
In Germany’s state of Baden-Württemberg, employees of transport operator Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs GmbH (SWEG) are holding a warning strike from September 30 to October 2. The action by the Verdi trade union will cause significant disruptions to bus and rail services and will also affect school transport, The Local Germany reports.
Bus and school service cancellations
SWEG warned of widespread bus service cancellations in the areas of Weil am Rhein, Müllheim, Endingen, Emmendingen, Lahr, Offenburg, Schutterwald, Kehl, Gammertingen, Wiesloch, Sinsheim, Dörzbach and Lauda-Königshofen.
According to the company, its school buses will not operate during the strike. SWEG will be unable to arrange replacement transport, so parents will need to make their own arrangements for their children’s journeys to school. The company also warned that information in timetables, apps and on digital displays may be unreliable, as employees responsible for announcing service cancellations may join the strike.
Which rail routes will be affected by the strike
SWEG expects that trains will not operate for three days on the Bad Krozingen — Münstertal, Achern — Ottenhöfen, Biberach — Oberharmersbach and Hechingen — Gammertingen routes.
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The strike, involving SWEG control centres, may also affect some routes of other rail operators, including DB Regio on the Endingen — Gottenheim line and Schwäbische Alb-Bahn on the Gammertingen — Engstingen — Schelklingen route. Service restrictions are also possible, including shorter train formations, on connections between Tübingen, Hechingen, Albstadt, Sigmaringen, Aalen, Munderkingen and Ulm.
At the same time, SWEG expects trains to continue operating on the Freiburg — Elzach, Offenburg — Strasbourg, Offenburg — Bad Griesbach, Offenburg — Freudenstadt and Hausach — Hornberg routes. The operator advises passengers to use alternative transport where possible or postpone their trips.
Reason for the labor dispute
The current action comes after two previous warning strikes in September as part of a dispute between Verdi and SWEG. One of the union’s key demands is stronger job protection for bus drivers, whose jobs may be at risk when transport contracts are retendered.
Verdi negotiator Frederike DeKoyte said that employers had not responded to the two previous strikes. SWEG managing director Thilo Grabo called the strike excessive and said that proposals had already been put forward for discussion and that negotiations were continuing.
