and emissions “Convergence of Two Worlds”: Berlin’s Public Transit Employees and Environmental Advocates Join Forces for Rights and Pollution Reduction.
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Upon initial observation, the assembly at an office building in east Berlin appears to be a support group. However, the individuals present, who include public transportation employees and climate activists, claim to have been united to advocate for a shared objective.
“Hello, my name is Erdogan. I’m a bus driver in the northern zone of Berlin and have been in the job for 32 years. I’m glad someone is finally taking our profession seriously,” says one.
Another person, named Stefan, shares, “I am a student and climate activist, and it is a pleasure to have met some of the drivers who are crucial in addressing the climate emergency.”
The groups – the transport workers who are represented by one of Europe’s biggest trade unions, and the climate campaigners who are members of Fridays for Future – will on Friday stage their first coordinated national strike in Germany.
Using the hashtag #WirFahrenZusammen (we drive together), they are advocating for improved working conditions and significant investment in Germany’s stressed and underfunded public transportation industry.
On Thursday, a member of the group passed around a bag of candy, likening the atmosphere to that of a self-help gathering. They emphasized the camaraderie among the activists.
Claudia, who works as a tram operator, speaks out from the rear of the room: “We have been independent for an extended period of time.”
They and other drivers have multiple grievances: tight schedules that do not allow for a restroom break during a nine-hour shift; irate customers due to delayed trams; the embarrassment of not being compensated for break time; and only having one free weekend every six weeks to spend with loved ones.
The employees of BVG, the transportation authority in Berlin, are requesting improved working conditions as their top priority. This is due to the high levels of stress that have caused a significant number of workers to resign in recent years, resulting in a decrease in the reliability of their service.
The support from Fridays for Future is said to have revitalized the workers’ movement and given them a renewed sense of significance by acknowledging their crucial role in enacting effective climate policies.
Claudia suggests that it’s time for us to come together, although she acknowledges that it may feel like two separate worlds meeting.
Ilhan Saritas, a 55-year-old bus driver with six years of experience, was initially doubtful about the teaming up of his union, Verdi, with the #WeDriveTogether movement. He used to believe that the climate activists were entitled and inconsiderate, causing delays for his bus by riding their bikes in the bus lane and disregarding traffic laws.
However, he explains, “I now view them as our partners. They have honed their skills in protesting on the streets. We, as drivers, have control over any changes in the climate. If politicians expect people to ditch their cars, they need us. But, they need to make the transition easier by providing more resources. The climate activists have shown us a different outlook on our contribution.”
The demonstrations, which began on Monday in various places throughout Germany, are calling for a yearly investment of €16 billion and a 100% increase in public transportation capacity by 2030.
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In 2019, Kaja Schwab became a member of Fridays for Future in Hanover, at the age of 15. She now expresses how the pandemic has caused the movement to lose momentum. According to her, #WeDriveTogether is a means of revitalizing the movement.
During the pandemic, many of us took the opportunity to contemplate and it was during this moment that we acknowledged our success in bringing this issue to the forefront of society. However, there continues to be a lack of concrete political efforts towards addressing it.
Schwab says that the Green party’s involvement in Olaf Scholz’s coalition government in 2021 has caused disappointment, and there is also a growing feeling of division in society, which has coincided with an increase in support for far-right ideologies. These factors have motivated the group to take action.
Due to the divide in our society and the increasing expenses, individuals are more concerned about their struggles to make it through each month rather than the potential apocalypse. Hence, #WeDriveTogether serves as a relevant approach to unite efforts towards both climate conservation and fairness in society.
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Initially, many employees in the public transportation sector were doubtful, according to her. However, after just two months, we found ourselves alongside one another on the picket line, huddling around the fire to keep warm.
While still in its early stages, the German project has already inspired similar endeavors in the Netherlands and Austria. Schwab, who is pursuing social science at Humboldt University in Berlin, expresses the aspiration for it to continue to grow.
Johnny Kiele, who is 32 years old, became a tram driver for the BVG four years ago. He shared, “At first, we questioned why we would collaborate with climate activists. However, when they began gathering signatures on our behalf, we were amazed by their passion and genuine curiosity about our work.”
According to Melina Carls, a physician and member of the Fridays for Future movement’s communication team, early discussions were typically short and concise. However, as we began to share more with each other, I recall one bus driver confessing that nobody had ever shown interest in him or his work before. He became emotional and expressed gratitude for our interest in him.
As a movement focused on the bigger picture, we have found it humbling to face the mundane aspects of daily life, such as having the opportunity to use the bathroom.
Source: theguardian.com
