BERLIN

Millions of commuters across Germany scrambled for alternatives Monday as a nationwide warning strike by public transport workers brought buses, trams and subways to a near standstill.

The Ver.di union called on approximately 100,000 employees at around 150 municipal transport companies to walk off the job for 24 hours starting at 3 a.m. local time (0200 GMT). The strike affected all states except Lower Saxony.

Monday morning rush hour saw the most severe disruptions in major cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich, where bus, subway, and tram services were largely canceled.

Ver.di negotiator Serat Canyurt defended the strike, saying employers had left the union no choice. "Our priority is to make progress at the negotiating table," Canyurt told local media. He said employers had refused to seriously address the union's demands, which had been on the table for two months.

The union is seeking significantly shorter working weeks and shifts, longer rest periods, and higher pay premiums for night and weekend work. In several states – including Bavaria, Brandenburg, Saarland, and Thuringia – Ver.di is also negotiating wage increases with municipal transport companies and operators.