Germany Braces for More Strikes in 2026

The Strikes Are Coming: Germany’s Industrial Action Crisis

You might think this is new, but… strikes have been a staple of German industrial relations for decades. This year, the aviation sector is leading the charge with Lufthansa canceling close to 800 flights due to pilots and flight attendants going on strike.

Airlines in Turmoil

German flag carrier Lufthansa today said close to 800 flights had been canceled, as pilots and flight attendants went on strike. An estimated 100,000 passengers have been affected. Many Lufthansa planes remained grounded after Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), the German pilots’ union, and Germany’s flight attendant union UFO called a strike.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

New collective bargaining agreements are due for around 10 million employees in 2026. If unions cannot reach an agreement with employers regarding pay and working conditions, there will likely be labor disputes. Earlier this year, Ver.di, a service sector trade union, called for nationwide strikes ahead of a third round of collective bargaining negotiations with Germany’s federal states.

Industries in Crisis

The chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry is in crisis, with some 2,400 jobs cut due to high energy costs and declining orders. According to the German Chemicals Industry Association (VCI), further plant closures and relocations have already been announced that will lead to more job cuts.

Public Transport Struggles

Firms in the wholesale, retail, and foreign trade sectors are also trying to strike deals. The collective agreement in the metal and electrical industry expires in October. Public transport employees have been under a lot of stress due to extremely unfavorable working hours, shift work, and constant time pressure.

Lessons from History

Although many employees in Germany may feel they are frequently involved in industrial action, a glance at long-term developments shows strikes are actually less frequent. In the 1980s, strikes and lockouts meant over 600,000 working days were lost per year but between 2000 and 2009, this fell to just under 150,000 working days per year.

Current Trends

But according to the German Economic Institute (IW), this figure has risen over the past 15 years. While the average number of days lost to strikes per 1,000 employees was five in the 2000s, it rose to seven in the 2010s, and to ten between 2020 and 2024.

Comparative Analysis

The extent of industrial action declined in most members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Overall, Germany is one of the countries where strikes are traditionally rare, according to the IW. Workers in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan also do not often engage in industrial action.

Looking Forward

Strikes are not only about wage disputes. In certain industries, which have been hard hit by economic and geopolitical developments, unions have also been negotiating about job security. Public transport employees have been under a lot of stress due to extremely unfavorable working hours, shift work, and constant time pressure.

Expert Perspectives

Researchers at the Hans Böckler Foundation found that in 2024 strikes were often a result of conflicts caused by “transformation.” For example, a series of “warning strikes” and lengthy negotiations were able to prevent plant closures and redundancies at German car manufacturer VW despite these having been announced by management.

Future Outlook

Deutsche Bank Research have predicted wages will rise by nearly 3% per year in 2026 and 2027. In 2025, the increase was estimated at 2.7%. “While slightly stronger agreements are expected, particularly in the public sector, unions in structurally challenged industries are likely to place a greater emphasis on job security than on wage increases,” Deutsche Bank Research said.