Hochbahn employees went on a 24-hour warning strike early Wednesday morning. Since 3:00 a.m., underground trains and elevated railway buses have stopped running in Hamburg, as Verdi union secretary Magdalene Waldeck said early in the morning. “We’re assuming that nothing is going anymore.”
It is expected to have a significant impact on commuter traffic and increased congestion on the roads. A replacement service or an emergency timetable is not planned. “This would pose a high safety risk if passengers pushed into overcrowded vehicles or onto platforms hoping for a supposed transport service,” Hochbahn explained. Not affected by the warning strike are the S-Bahn and the buses of the Hamburg-Holstein transport company (VHH) that operate in Hamburg.
With the walkout, the employees want to emphasize their demands for more wages. The third round of negotiations between the Verdi union and Hochbahn is scheduled for Thursday. Verdi demands 600 euros more monthly wages for the approximately 6,000 Hochbahn employees with a twelve-month contract term. In addition, trainees are to receive an additional 258 euros per month and a free professional ticket for local public transport.
So far, Hochbahn has offered a 4.5 percent increase in tariffs retroactive to January 1 for a period of 21 months, but at least by 150 euros. There should be a further increase of 130 euros from January 1, 2024, as well as a tax-free inflation compensation premium of 3000 euros. “Everyone is super mad at the offer from the employer,” said Waldeck.
The Hochbahn asks that you refrain from driving on that day and – if that is not possible – if possible switch to S-Bahn and VHH bus lines. Among other things, announcements, the HVV app and hvv.de informed which lines of the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) would be served. The Hochbahn is by far the largest company in the HVV. According to its own statements, it operates almost 120 bus lines with more than 1,400 stops – and four subway lines covering a distance of more than 100 kilometers. In the last pre-Corona year 2019, the Hochbahn transported 468 million passengers with more than 2000 vehicles.
