German trade union ver.di has issued a 24-hour strike call for employees of the Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG) on Friday, 25 September. The Karlsruhe-based operator runs the S-Bahn tram-train services that funnel thousands of workers from Baden-Württemberg into Switzerland each week via Basel Badischer Bahnhof and other border stations. AVG says it cannot yet quantify how many of its 1 200 staff will walk out, but admits that “significant service gaps” are likely across lines S3, S4 and S5, which feed Deutsche Bahn and SBB long-distance services into Basel. While the Karlsruhe public transport company VBK is not directly affected, knock-on effects such as overcrowded replacement buses are expected. Swiss firms in the north-western cantons rely heavily on German resident staff who use the tram-train network to reach workplaces in Basel’s pharmaceutical cluster and the tri-national EuroAirport. HR departments are advising cross-border commuters to allow extra travel time, consider car-sharing, or work from home where possible. Employers should also anticipate higher mileage claims and short-notice absence requests under Switzerland’s obligation-to-pay rules when public transport is disrupted. The warning strike forms part of nationwide wage negotiations covering more than 30 private rail operators. The next bargaining round is set for 5 October. If talks collapse, ver.di has hinted at multi-day strikes in October—which would coincide with the Basel autumn fair and could severely disrupt corporate mobility plans.
