Protest in Germany

Climate activists support striking bus drivers

Verdi unionists during a strike in spring 2023

(Bild: AFP)

The trade union Verdi is demanding higher wages for drivers in local public transport - which is why buses, trams and subway trains are coming to a standstill in 80 German cities on Friday. They have found unusual supporters in this fight: The climate activists from Fridays for Future are supporting the protests.

The climate movement is actually campaigning for climate-friendly mobility - but the young activists still like the fact that public transport is not running in dozens of German cities. In numerous cities, members of Fridays for Future are striking together with bus and train drivers.

Coffee and cake for picketers
"Of course, there are big differences between the groups," explains Green Youth spokesperson Svenja Appuhn, who also supports the protests. Many public transport riders initially had "a lot of reservations about the climate movement. But because the activists kept turning up and showing that they were serious, trust developed," says the spokesperson. The climate activists want to provide picketers with coffee and cake and actively draw attention to the protesters' demand for better working conditions.

"Bus drivers are climate savers"
Public transport employees should definitely benefit from the activists. "Most of the people at Fridays for Future are between 15 and 25 years old, many are at school or university and most of them have a lot of activist experience," says Appuhn. The bus drivers, on the other hand, have a completely different life experience and naturally have a completely different daily routine. "Bus drivers are climate savers," says Appuhn, explaining the movement's commitment.

Employees in local public transport are not only demanding higher wages, but also more basic working conditions. According to Verdi, collective bargaining negotiations are underway with more than 100 municipal companies. Working conditions are being renegotiated in 15 federal states and with two transport companies in Hamburg.