Berlin's public transport grinds to a halt as 24-hour strike begins

Berlin is facing major disruptions today as a 24-hour warning strike by employees of the Berlin Transport Company (BVG) gets underway.

According to Report, the walkout, which began at 3:00 AM local time (6:00 AM Baku time), is set to continue until the same time tomorrow morning.

According to BVG, the strike will bring the city's metro system, trams, and most bus routes to a standstill. However, regional trains and the city's S-Bahn urban rail system will not be affected. In an effort to mitigate the impact of the strike, additional S-Bahn trains will operate in some areas of Berlin.

The strike was called by the Verdi trade union, which represents workers in the service sector. The union is demanding a monthly pay increase of 750 euros for approximately 16,000 BVG employees. Verdi has accused BVG of "delaying tactics," as the company failed to present any proposals during the first round of collective negotiations.