Travellers in Baden-Württemberg were spared fresh disruption after the services union Ver.di suspended a 48-hour warning strike planned for 12-13 November 2026 at Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbH (SWEG), the state-owned bus and regional-rail operator. Strike Tracker records show the action was cancelled late on 11 November following management’s offer of exploratory talks on 26 November. The strike would have idled regional rail lines such as the Ortenau S-Bahn (Offenburg – Bad Griesbach) and hundreds of buses in the Upper Rhine Valley, affecting commuters to pharma clusters in Weil am Rhein and cross-border shoppers heading into France and Switzerland. Ver.di is pressing for a €500 monthly raise and full back-pay for 2026; SWEG has countered with a staged €380 package and a one-off €1,100 payment. Why it matters: Baden-Württemberg has become a nearshoring hub for multinationals relocating staff from Switzerland. Reliable last-mile public transport is a selling point; recurring strikes since October have forced corporates to reimburse taxi bills and adjust shift rosters. The pause buys breathing space ahead of the busy Advent travel season. Next steps: If exploratory talks fail, Ver.di could legally re-issue a strike call with 48 hours’ notice. Employers should keep flexible working-from-home arrangements in place and budget for potential substitute transport in December.
Source: Strike Tracker
