Status: 02/02/2023 06:12 a.m
A warning strike paralyzed the entire subway system and large parts of the bus system in Hamburg on Wednesday. Today, the subway and buses are to run as usual again, the elevated railway has announced.
Normally around one million people use the buses and trains of the Hamburger Hochbahn every day. However, a warning strike by Hochbahn employees reduced this number to zero on Wednesday. Nothing has worked since 3 a.m.: The underground trains stayed in the depots, the elevated train buses in the depots. In view of the warning strike, it was decided not to start operations, said Hochbahn spokesman Christoph Kreienbaum in the morning. The background are safety concerns: they want to prevent too many people from crowding into the vehicles.
Elevated railway: full operation again on Thursday
The trade union ver.di had called around 6,000 employees of the largest company in the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) to a 24-hour warning strike. The strike ended at 3 a.m. early Thursday morning. Then the elevated railway wanted to resume all subway and bus operations. The Hochbahn announced on Wednesday afternoon that there could still be isolated bus trips up to 6 a.m.
S-Bahn and VHH buses not affected
The S-Bahn was not affected by the warning strike. They were fuller than usual on Wednesday. The buses of the Hamburg-Holstein transport company (VHH) and the HADAG ferries were also on the move as usual.
Good deal for taxi drivers
Many passengers were upset on Wednesday because of the warning strike. The Hochbahn advised to use the HVV app or via hvv.de to inform. Because apparently more people used the car on Wednesday, it was partly full on Hamburg’s streets. The feared chaos in traffic did not materialize. The taxi drivers did good business. The shared taxi provider Moia also had significantly more passengers than on normal days.
Parents could withdraw children from school
Pupils who couldn’t make it to class because of the strike didn’t have to worry, according to the school authorities. If they come to school late or not at all due to the strike, they will not suffer any disadvantage, said a spokesman. Parents could cancel their child’s registration at their school for Wednesday if the way to school was unreasonable.
Collective bargaining continues today
Ver.di secretary Magdalene Waldeck was very satisfied with the way the warning strike went. “The response has been really great,” she says. With the strike, the union wants to increase the pressure on the employer for the third round of collective bargaining on Thursday. The union is demanding 600 euros more monthly wages for employees with a twelve-month collective bargaining term. In addition, trainees are to receive an additional 258 euros per month and a free professional ticket for local public transport. For a period of 21 months, the Hochbahn has so far offered an increase in tariffs of 4.5 percent retroactive to January 1, 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 3,000 euros.
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