Public Transport Strike Occurs in Dusseldorf on a Friday

Public Transport Strike Affects Thousands in North Rhine-Westphalia

A joint strike by public transport workers is set to disrupt services across North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on February 21. The strike, called by the United Services Trade Union (ver.di), will impact numerous bus lines and other public transport companies in the region.

The affected bus lines include SB51, 722, 730, 746, 751, 770, 771, 782, 785, 831, 834, O5, O6, O13, O14, and O19, operated by Rheinbahn. Other public transport companies in NRW affected by the strike include Wupsi, KVB, RSVG, SWB-V, the city trains of Monheim, Regio Mettmann, WSW mobil, Stadtwerke Solingen, Stadtwerke Remscheid, Ruhrbahn, STOAG, DVG Duisburg, and other companies in NRW.

In Düsseldorf, the Rheinbahn has organized an emergency schedule to ensure essential services are maintained during the strike. However, passengers are advised to check the updated schedules before traveling.

The strike aims to highlight the need for good wages and working conditions in the public transport sector, a shared responsibility, according to the deputy chairperson of ver.di, Christine Behle. Behle argues that public transport is a public service and that municipalities should not be left alone with the financing of attractive working conditions. She emphasizes that the situation for public transport employees is extremely problematic due to a constant increase in workload and far too little staff.

Thousands of people are expected to retire from the public transport sector in the coming years, leading to further staffing issues. As a result, many new employees leave quickly due to low wages, leading to high sick rates and frequent cancellations of buses and trains.

Trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, National Express, and others will not be affected by the strike. The on-demand service flexy is also not affected.

The federal government and the states must understand the future of public transport as their responsibility, according to Behle. The strike is planned to take place throughout the day, from the start to the end of operations. Six federal states, including NRW, will be affected by the strike.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and check for updates on the affected transport services. The strike is a demonstration of the need for improved working conditions and wages in the public transport sector, a matter that affects thousands of workers and millions of passengers across NRW.