Commuters and schoolchildren in Schleswig-Holstein are facing significant disruptions as private bus company employees have gone on strike.

The strike, organized by the Verdi union, began this morning and is expected to last until the end of the late shift on Friday.

This action follows the collapse of a wage agreement with the Omnibusverband Nord (OVN), which represents private bus companies in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.

The agreement, which promised higher wages and an inflation adjustment, was withdrawn by OVN due to financial constraints linked to government budget freezes.

Verdi has criticized the OVN for provoking the strike by retracting the agreement without warning.

The union demands that the OVN sign the contract or face continued industrial action.

The strike is expected to severely impact bus services across the region, affecting thousands of commuters.