A nationwide strike by public transport workers brought bus, metro, and tram services across Germany to a halt, affecting around 100,000 employees of municipal transport companies. The 24-hour walkout was called by the United Service Sector Union (Ver.di) to pressure employers during collective bargaining talks.
Major cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Stuttgart were hit hardest, with road traffic gridlocked as commuters turned to cars. Ver.di said employers had rejected most demands, which include shorter working hours, better shift regulation, longer rest periods, and higher pay for night and weekend work.