Host Nation Update, Jan. 30, 2026
Nationwide public transit strike expected on Monday
Ver.di has announced nationwide warning strikes in local public transport on Monday. Passengers using local public transport in southwest Germany should expect significant disruptions at the start of the new week. The Ver.di union has called for a full-day warning strike on Monday. The industrial action will affect Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Freiburg, Baden-Baden, Esslingen, and Konstanz, as announced by the Ver.di regional office. The one-day strike is part of nationwide industrial action.
In the seven cities, buses and streetcars (U-bahns) are expected to remain largely in the depot. Ver.di anticipates that no buses or trains will run. It was initially unclear whether individual lines operated by the affected municipal transport companies would still run or whether there would be alternative timetables.
However, one thing is certain. Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to be affected by the strike. Negotiations for new collective bargaining agreements for municipal public transport companies are scheduled for this spring in all German states. In Baden-Württemberg, around 6,700 people work in this sector. The Verdi union is negotiating on their behalf with the local Association of Municipal Employers (KAV). Ver.di demands higher bonuses
According to previous statements, no progress was made at the start of negotiations. This time, the negotiating parties are not arguing about wages. Instead, they are renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement, which defines the working conditions of the employees. Ver.di is demanding, among other things, higher bonuses for overtime, night work, and weekend work. They also want to secure allowances based on individual pay grades. Verdi argues that overtime is currently cheaper for employers than new hires and that employees are under considerable strain due to increased workloads.
According to the union, improved bonuses should help limit overtime, attract staff, and stabilize public transport in the long term. Ver.di negotiator Jan Bleckert expressed understanding for the precarious financial situation of the municipalities.
“We will not accept that municipal employers are trying to blackmail employees with the constant threat of benefit cuts and fare increases for passengers,” Bleckert said.
Negotiations are scheduled to resume on Feb. 9. The no-strike agreement in this dispute expired on Jan. 1.
(Kreiszeitung BB Bote)
Stuttgart Region-What will be on strike Monday?
SSB (Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG)
- U‑Bahn (all lines)
- SSB buses
- Seilbahn (cable car)
- Zahnradbahn (Zacke)
- Zacke‑Bus
- SSB Flex (on‑demand service)
Night Buses
- Sunday → Monday: Will run
Monday → Tuesday: Cancelled
Subcontracted Bus Lines (Private operators on SSB routes)
- Operating normally on these lines: 53, 54, 58, 59, 60, 64, 66, 71, 73, 90, 99
What is affected in Landkreis Esslingen
- SVE (Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Esslingen) – All buses stopped
- Lines affected: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115, 118, 132, 138
- No emergency school transport
- SVE Infopoint closed
What is NOT affected (per VVS)
- S‑Bahn Stuttgart (DB Regio)
- Regional Trains (RE, RB, IRE)
- Long‑Distance Trains (IC/ICE)
- Other regional bus companies
- VVS‑Rider (on‑demand service)
(Information gathered from Verdi and the VVS website by USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs)
Who will govern the state? Who will succeed Minister President Kretschmann?
Kreiszeitung BB Bote will take a look at the upcoming election in a digital evening conference hosted by its editorial team on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The state election is on March 8, 2026, and the Kretschmann era is coming to an end. Baden-Württemberg also faces considerable uncertainty on other issues. Who will succeed the long-serving Green Party Minister-President? Which party will be the strongest force in the new state parliament? What challenges does the state face? The editorial staff will discuss these and other questions in the next evening conference.
After 15 years as Minister-President, Winfried Kretschmann is not running again; he is retiring at the age of 77. The two candidates to succeed him, Cem Özdemir (Greens) and Manuel Hagel (CDU), are ready. They are big shoes to fill, at least considering Kretschmann’s standing in politics and among the public. And the new electoral law adds another layer of excitement: For the first time in Baden-Württemberg, two votes will be cast in a state election, and 16- and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote.
The next digital evening conference is dedicated to the topic “Baden-Württemberg Before the Election” and will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12, starting at 7:30 p.m. The evening conference will take place on Zoom (in German).
Register in advance at www.zeitung-erleben.de/abendkonferenz. Questions on the topic can be submitted in advance by email to chef@stzn.de (subject: Evening Conference) or on the evening of the conference via the Zoom chat function.
(Kreiszeitung BB Bote)
Cost and security measures have increased immensely at Fasching parades
Organizers state that security requirements and costs for their parades in Böblingen and Ehningen are immense. Bela Stahl almost canceled the children’s carnival this year. The costs are simply gigantic, but he doesn’t want to charge more for admission so that “every child in town can go.”
This year, the season is short and therefore intense. It’s also labor-intensive. Balls, festivals, and the storming of the town hall have to be organized. And in Böblingen, Weil der Stadt, and Ehningen, the carnival parades are major events that have taken on a different character since December 2024.
“What happened next still brings tears to my eyes,” says Jo Bühler, who almost had to cancel the 2025 parade just 72 hours before it was due to start. Jo Bühler’s action was the consequence of the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market in December 2024, where a man drove his two-ton, 340-horsepower car into the crowd, killing six people and injuring more than 300, carnival parades have to implement completely different security measures.
Whether in Cologne or Ehningen, the parade routes have to be blocked off with countless barriers erected. Security personnel are stationed along the route, and all access roads are secured.
In Böblingen, too, carnival is something that fits well with the theme of family. He doesn’t want to charge more than three euros for admission to the party on Shrove Tuesday in the congress hall. But on the preceding Rose Monday, Stahl says he was sweating again organizing the parade. The businessman, who runs a demolition company in Ehningen, admits: “Sometimes we really wonder how we’re going to manage it all.”
The costs and security measures have increased immensely. And all of this is organized by volunteers.
(Kreiszeitung BB Bote)
Where can you take children in the winter when it’s wet and cold outside?
When rain, snow, and freezing temperatures make playing outdoors almost impossible, winter playgrounds become true havens for little explorers. There, children can slide, climb, and romp around without parents constantly having to check the weather forecast. Whether it’s gymnasiums, community centers, or lovingly designed indoor play areas – the options are diverse – including in the Böblingen district.
Many winter playgrounds are set up for a limited time during the colder months and are organized by municipalities, clubs, or church communities. They offer not only space for physical activity but also for social interaction: families chat, children make new friends, and best of all – the activities are usually free. There are also several winter playgrounds in the Böblingen district. Here are a few that aren’t so easy to find online.
Where toddlers can have a blast
One of these places where children can find space to play even in winter is located in Böblingen. The community center of the Free Evangelical Church (FeG) in Böblingen opens its doors every Wednesday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. for children ages zero to four. The little ones can play freely while their parents chat and enjoy coffee. Parents should bring non-slip socks and a snack.
Where? Community Center of the FeG Böblingen, Hanns-Klemm-Straße 9, Böblingen. When? Every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m., ending Feb. 25.
In Ehningen, a “winter playground” is open during the winter months at the Protestant community center. Organized by the local AWO (Workers’ Welfare Association) chapter and the Ehningen Protestant parish, it is designed for children aged one to six. It offers plenty of space to play, run around, burn off energy, and make new friends. There’s a bouncy castle, a Bobby Car racetrack in the foyer, a creative table for painting and crafts, a reading corner for relaxing and cuddling, and an indoor climbing frame. For adults, there’s a café area with coffee, cake, and tea. Use of the playground is free; parental supervision is required.
Where? Ehningen Community Center, Schlossstraße 43, Ehningen. When? Friday, Feb. 13 and March 13, from 3 to 6 p.m.
A few kilometers away in Hildrizhausen, another indoor play area opens its doors. Instead of the wet playground, children can meet their playmates in the warm rooms of the community center at the Winter Playground. The community center opens its doors every other Friday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. A variety of play options invite parents and children to a cozy afternoon. There’s a bistro area for parents, but you’re also welcome to bring your own food and drinks. Slippers or socks are recommended.
Where? Evangelical Community Center, Rosenstraße 15, Hildrizhausen. When? Fridays, January 30 / February 13 / February 27 / March 13.
The YMCA Bondorf has come up with something special. The Winter Playground at the Evangelical Community Center has the theme “Friendship.” For one day, children ages zero to six can play, romp around, and be creative. The “Winter Playground” is open from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration is required. A refreshment corner offering coffee, hot chocolate, punch, waffles, and other treats completes the experience. Parents pay five euros; children are free.
Where? Evangelical Community Center Bondorf, Hindenburgstraße 69, Bondorf. When? Saturday, January 31st, registration at //cvjm-bondorf.de/winterspielplatz/.
A space to play and meet friends, even in winter. There’s a similar offering for families in Herrenberg. The open winter playroom at the Herrenberg Family Education Center is especially fun for toddlers. There are stimulating play stations for children ages one to three; please bring slippers or socks. Donations are welcome.
Where? Family Education Center, Eberhardtstraße 27, Herrenberg. When? Feb. 12, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Kreiszeitung BB Bote)