Bus drivers in Schleswig-Holstein call for full-day strike

Approximately 1,800 bus drivers in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein have called for a full-day warning strike on Monday, September 21. The industrial action, organized by the Verdi union, affects public transport services in the cities of Kiel, Lübeck, Flensburg, and Neumünster.

The strike is expected to cause massive disruptions, with commuters and students facing significant service outages from the start of operations until the end of the day. The union is seeking a 6.5 percent wage increase for a 12-month period, along with an annual benefit of 650 euros for union members. In response, the municipal employer association has offered a 4.4 percent increase for 24 months.

Schleswig-Holstein's Transport Minister, Claus Ruhe Madsen, has called for restraint from both parties to avoid further commuter frustration. A third round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Kiel on Tuesday.