Fewer buses than usual are on the road in Hanover and the surrounding area on Thursday. Around 340 drivers from the Regiobus Hannover company took part in a warning strike, said a spokesman for the Verdi service union. Regiobus Hannover reported on the company’s website that scheduled services were cancelled. This was also said by the spokesman for the Verdi union, which had called for a warning strike.
The background to the warning strike is national collective bargaining for employees who fall under the railway collective agreement. According to Verdi, around 40 companies, most of which operate local public transport, are affected by the contract. The Employers’ Association of German Railways and the union are negotiating for around 5,000 employees. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Friday in Fulda.
Verdi had called on employees in several federal states to stop working. Nationwide, about 2,000 employees have taken part in the warning strike on Thursday, said the Verdi spokesman. He expects that the number will increase because some companies go on strike after shift times.
The S-Bahn, regional trains, buses and light rail of the service provider Üstra in the city of Hanover and the on-demand service Sprinti are not affected by the strike.
Website Regiobus press release Verdi 3.5
