Dates

Collective Bargaining Rounds:

Collective Bargaining in the Metal and Electrical Industries  

In the metal and electrical industry—by far the largest sector in Germany, with over 3.7 million employees nationwide—IG Metall may terminate the wage agreements in the individual bargaining regions with one month’s notice to the end of the month, effective for the first time on October 31, 2026. Collective bargaining negotiations will begin in the fall. The peace obligation ends at midnight on October 31. 
Overview of the Negotiations 

Volkswagen Collective Bargaining Round 

A separate in-house collective bargaining agreement applies to the 120,000 employees at Volkswagen. The regionally negotiated wage agreements can be terminated with two months’ notice, effective December 31, 2026. 

Iron and Steel Collective Bargaining Round 

In the steel industries of northwestern and eastern Germany, the collective bargaining agreements expire on December 31, 2026; in the Saarland, they expire on March 31, 2027. 

Collective Bargaining Rounds in the Skilled Trades 

In the skilled trades, there are numerous other sectors with various regional collective bargaining agreements and terms, such as the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning trades (SHK), the metalworking trades, the carpentry and joinery trades, the writing and drawing instruments industry, and the electrical trades.