Strikes Paralyze Transport in Bavaria and Agricultural Exports in Argentina

Residents of Bavaria are grappling with a transport paralysis affecting key urban centers in the region. In Augsburg and Regensburg, the Verdi trade union announced all-day warning strikes, which began on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The situation is particularly difficult in Augsburg – out of the 140 vehicles that usually operate on routes, only a few buses and trams run by private companies are in service. In Regensburg, the disruptions will last longer, as the protest action is also planned for Friday. Representatives of the local municipal utilities warn that bus traffic could be almost completely halted until Saturday morning. Similar protests took place in Bamberg, where replacement buses were successfully launched on selected lines. German trade unions regularly use warning strikes (Warnstreiks) as a form of pressure in collective bargaining. This is a specific legal instrument allowing for short-term work stoppages before moving to a full-scale, indefinite strike.The situation in Argentina is taking an even more dramatic turn. Local port workers organized in the Fesimaf federation have begun a nationwide wave of protests. The main source of conflict is the planned reform of labor law by President Javier Milei. The president, who describes himself as an anarcho-capitalist, aims to make the market more flexible, which, according to unionists, violates fundamental social rights. The strike has hit the strategically important Rosario port, resulting in a halt to agricultural exports, which are the foundation of Argentina's foreign trade. 48 godzin — the protest by Argentine port workers lasts Experts point out that social resistance to Javier Milei's policies may grow. Although the president received political fuel in the form of good results in parliamentary elections, his labor market reform strikes at the long-standing privileges of the strongly unionized working class. In Germany, the dispute is wage-based and concerns working conditions in the ÖPNV sector. In both cases, the most affected are citizens: passengers in Europe and entrepreneurs exporting goods from South America. The situation remains dynamic, and the coming days will bring resolutions on the possible expansion of protests to other economic sectors in both countries. Since the 2001 crisis, Argentina has been struggling with cyclical debt problems and gigantic inflation, which historically has led to numerous social unrest and government collapses.„The current labor market is too old and too slow to meet the challenges of a modern economy.” — Javier MileiLiberal-leaning media emphasize the right of workers to decent wages and protection against radical reforms undermining social security. | Conservative media highlight the necessity of modernizing the economy and the harmfulness of blocking public services by demanding trade unions.