Public transport workers in Bamberg began a warning strike early Tuesday morning, leading to a complete halt of bus services. The protest, organized by the Verdi trade union, is set to expand in the coming days to other key centers in Bavaria, including Augsburg, Regensburg, and Passau. Passengers must expect significant disruptions, despite the city's transport company launching a limited number of emergency buses operated by private carriers.
Transport Paralysis in Bamberg
Since Tuesday morning, city buses have not been running. Only symbolic emergency connections operated by an external private company have been launched.
Escalation Across Bavaria
The Verdi union has announced an extension of strikes on Thursday and Friday in cities such as Augsburg, Regensburg, Passau, and Landshut.
Leveraging the Holiday Period
The protests are taking place during the winter holidays, which is intended to exert additional pressure on employers by increasing the perceived impact of disruptions.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, starting at 4:00 AM (though some sources indicate 6:00 AM), public transport workers in Bamberg walked off the job, paralyzing transport in this Upper Franconian city. The protest action, initiated by the trade union Verdi, is part of a broader wage conflict in Bavarian public transport. All city buses remained in depots, forcing the operator, Stadtwerke Bamberg, to implement an emergency schedule. Under this plan, a private bus company only services selected routes, such as 935 and 936, to provide transport for those most in need. The situation in Bamberg is merely a prelude to the announced escalation of actions. According to the latest information, unionists plan to extend the warning strike over the coming days of the week. On Thursday, disruptions will affect Augsburg and Regensburg, while on Friday, workers in Passau and Landshut will join the protest. It is worth noting that in Regensburg, the action is planned to last two days. Union representatives emphasize that these dates coincide with the winter holiday period, which may amplify transport chaos in the region. The German public transport sector has traditionally been strongly unionized for decades, and the right to strike is a cornerstone of the local collective bargaining model originating from the post-war Collective Bargaining Act of 1949. Despite the ongoing paralysis, the conflicting parties have not yet reached an agreement, and Verdi announces that it will inform about any further steps with appropriate advance notice. A spokesperson for Bamberg's municipal utilities and transport company admitted that the city is trying to mitigate the effects of the protest, but the scale of bus service suspensions is too large for private subcontractors to fully compensate. Experts predict that if talks do not gain momentum, February may bring further waves of protests across Germany, affecting regional logistics and the daily mobility of millions of citizens. 100% — of city buses in Bamberg did not leave the depots Schedule for Expanding the Protest in Bavaria: February 17, 2026 — Start of strike in Bamberg; February 19, 2026 — Strikes in Augsburg and Regensburg; February 20, 2026 — Protests in Passau, Landshut and continuation in Regensburg