Whether to school, work or a doctor’s appointment: If you rely on the bus, tram or subway this week, you will wait in vain at the stop in many places. The reason: a nationwide wave of warning strikes.
According to the Verdi union, industrial action is planned on different days regionally until Saturday, with Friday (March 1st) as the main strike day. Bavaria is the only federal state not affected. The warning strikes are likely to lead to thousands of bus, subway and tram cancellations. After all: most S-Bahn trains in Germany will probably run. So whoever can, changes course. You can find out the latest developments in the negotiations in our warning strike ticker.
In general, it is advisable to check early on whether the connection is running – for example via the app of the respective transport company. What you should be aware of is that the fact that the bus or train doesn’t run is often not a valid reason for missing appointments and obligations. The most important tips for commuters, patients and students:
Commuters have to get to work on time despite the warning strike
“Boss, the subway isn’t running! I’ll come later!” Anyone who sends a message like this shortly before the start of work risks a warning. Because working people can’t just come to work late. You bear the so-called travel risk and are responsible for arriving at the company on time.
Otherwise you could face salary losses or sanctions. “If I don’t come to work, the principle applies: no work, no money,” says Alexander Bredereck, a specialist lawyer for labor law in Berlin. Employers can also warn employees if they arrive at the company late or not at all. This is at least always possible if the strike – as in this case – was announced well in advance.
For commuters this means looking for alternatives. You usually have to accept higher costs, for example because you drive to work.
Basically, the specialist lawyer’s recommendation is to make arrangements with the employer at an early stage. Under certain circumstances, time off, vacation or reducing overtime for the day of the warning strike may also be an option. Or out of the ordinary, home office is the best solution if there are appropriate agreements.
Doctor’s appointment: If in doubt, cancel during a wave of strikes
In the event of short-term cancellations, doctors and therapists sometimes charge cancellation fees. From a legal perspective, when these can be requested and when not and what cancellation deadlines apply cannot be answered in a few sentences.
Basically, the advice applies: It’s better to cancel as early as possible and ask for a postponement if you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep the appointment because of the public transport warning strike. What can’t hurt is to reveal the warning strike as the reason for the cancellation. It’s quite possible that the practice will then turn a blind eye.
It makes sense to document the rejection. This way you have something in hand if there is any trouble. This can be done by sending the cancellation as an email to the practice so that you can later prove when it was sent out. “If you cancel by telephone, you should write down the name of the person you spoke to and also the time,” advises lawyer Prof. Martin Stellpflug, chairman of the Medical Law Working Group in the German Bar Association.
Despite the warning strike, students have compulsory schooling
The school bus or train isn’t running? Annoying, but not an excuse for a day off. “The strike in local transport does not change compulsory schooling,” says Wilhelm Achelpöhler, an administrative law lawyer from Münster.
He suspects that no school authority will make a problem of it because of a single day. Strictly speaking, however, it is an administrative offense. Theoretically, a fine could be imposed.
The lawyer’s advice to parents: Since they are not the only ones affected by the strike situation, the first thing he would do is ask the school whether something has already been organized there – such as shared taxis. If the journey is very long, especially in the countryside, and several students are affected, you can also organize carpools yourself.
If everything doesn’t work out and it’s impossible for the child to come to school, at least let them know in good time.
Passenger rights: Compensation in the event of a warning strike
If the ICE or the regional train is more than an hour late or canceled due to a strike, those affected are entitled to compensation in accordance with European passenger rights. But things are different with public transport: local transport is not covered by these passenger rights, as Beatrix Kaschel from the local transport arbitration board explains.
With a view to the public transport warning strike in many places over the next few days, this means: Will you miss an important appointment or a long-distance train because the subway or bus doesn’t come? Unfortunately, bad luck. There is no need to hope for compensation.
According to the expert, punctuality promises that municipal transport companies sometimes make and that you can apply for reimbursement after certain delays generally do not apply to warning strikes.