Three-Day MVG Strike in Munich Concludes
Munich, March 20 – The three-day warning strike by the Munich Transport Company (MVG) employees, called by the Verdi trade union, has concluded. The industrial action, which began on Tuesday, March 17, and intensified on Wednesday and Thursday, significantly impacted public transportation across the Bavarian capital. Services are expected to return to normal operations as of Friday, March 20.
Disruptions Began Early in the Week
Unlike ten other Bavarian cities where strikes were limited to Thursday, March 19, Munich experienced disruptions starting on Tuesday, March 17. On this day, Verdi called for a strike among MVG control center and passenger service staff. Initially, the MVG reported no significant impact on U-Bahn, bus, or tram services from this initial action.
However, the situation escalated on Wednesday, March 18, when all tariff employees of MVG and Stadtwerke München (SWM) in the mobility sector were called to strike from 11:00 AM. This extended to a full-day strike on Thursday, March 19, affecting U-Bahn, tram, and all bus lines up to number 199. The S-Bahn, regional trains, and regional bus lines of the MVV were not part of the strike action.
Impact on Commuters and Football Fans
The strike caused considerable inconvenience for Munich residents and visitors. Commuters were advised to seek alternative transportation, form carpools, or work from home if possible. Even football fans attending the Champions League match between FC Bayern Munich and Atalanta Bergamo faced difficulties, although U-Bahn line 6 remained operational.
On Thursday, public transport in Munich largely came to a standstill. Despite this, the MVG implemented an emergency schedule to provide basic services. This included tram line 20 operating every 10 minutes, line 25 every 20 minutes, and U-Bahn services running between Sendlinger Tor and Münchner Freiheit.
Strike Concludes, Normal Service Resumes
The strike officially ended with the close of operations on Thursday night, paving the way for the resumption of regular public transport services from Friday, March 20. No further industrial actions are planned for the weekend in Munich, a contrast to some other cities that may still face disruptions.
Passengers were able to find updated information regarding the strike and service disruptions on the MVG website under “Aktuelle Störungen” (Current Disruptions) and via the MVGO app.
The strike was a result of ongoing negotiations between the Verdi trade union and transport companies over collective bargaining agreements. The union aimed to achieve better working conditions and higher wages for public transport employees.
Source: https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/mvg-streik-diese-einschraenkungen-gibt-es-im-muenchner-oepnv-20-03-113745069
