Public transport services across Germany were partially brought to a standstill from early morning as a nationwide strike organised by ver.di disrupted buses, trams and metro systems in cities across the country.

According to the union, nearly 100,000 employees from around 150 municipal transport companies and bus operators are taking part in the industrial action. In many urban areas, public transport services have been almost completely suspended, leaving commuters scrambling for alternatives.

The strike does not affect Lower Saxony, where a so-called “industrial peace” obligation remains in force. This agreement temporarily prohibits strike action under existing labour arrangements.

At the centre of the dispute are demands for an average wage increase of 12%, alongside a reduction in weekly working hours and shift lengths. The union is also calling for longer rest periods and higher pay supplements for night shifts and weekend work, citing staff shortages and growing pressure on workers in the public transport sector.

Economists have warned that even a single day of disruption could have serious economic consequences. Veronika Grimm, a professor at the Nuremberg Institute of Technology, described a one-day shutdown as a source of “substantial macroeconomic losses”, driven by employee delays and absences from work.

Similar concerns were raised by Clemens Fuest, president of the ifo Institut, who estimated the potential economic damage at between €100 million and €200 million per day.

The strike highlights growing tensions in Germany’s public services, as unions press for improved pay and working conditions amid inflation, labour shortages and increasing demands on urban transport networks.