Amid ongoing strikes in the public transport sector, employers’ associations are demanding action from the federal government and changes to strike law.
The BDA (Federation of German Employers’ Associations) chief executive, Steffen Kampeter, blasted the shutdowns in “Bild am Sonntag”: “This strike is a blatant extortion attempt. In the end, it’s the commuters who suffer”.
Kampeter called for “serious negotiations instead of escalation” and criticized the prolonged stoppages. “A 48‑hour strike that paralyzes buses and trains is not a warning strike” he said. “The fact that courts allow such actions shows we need new fairness rules in strike law. Legislators must step in”.
He dismissed the trade unions’ demands as excessive and out of touch with the economy: “Growth isn’t happening, many companies are floundering, jobs are under threat, and the public sector is becoming increasingly greedy”. He noted that a substantial wage‑plus had already been granted, but it is no longer financially sustainable.
In an Insa poll for “Bild am Sonntag”, 47 % of respondents opposed the public‑transport strikes, 42 % considered them justified. A majority-55 %-refused to pay more for public transport if it would improve workers’ conditions, while 30 % were willing to do so.
