(de-news.net) – In the public service wage negotiations, employers have yet to present an offer. The Verdi union has called for warning strikes in public transport today in six federal states, involving over 50,000 workers from municipal rail and bus companies. Affected areas include the Ruhr region as well as major cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt. Strikes are also expected in Bremen, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.

In Berlin, work at local transport companies has been halted for the second consecutive day due to a wage dispute. Significant disruptions are expected until Saturday, with some emergency timetables announced. S-Bahn and regional services remain unaffected. Yesterday, many cities saw no garbage collection, and numerous daycare centers and offices remained closed.

The unions are responding to the unproductive outcome of the second round of negotiations without result held in Potsdam. The next wage talks are scheduled for mid-March. Verdi and the civil servants’ association demand an 8% pay increase, with a minimum of 350 euros additionally per the month.