German Metalworkers’ Union Braces for Battle Over 35-Hour Week as 300 Contract Deviations Emerge
Published on 07/28/2026 at 00:10 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The countdown to the 2026 collective bargaining round in Germany’s metal and electrical industry is accelerating, with employers and unions already digging in over working time. Industry associations bayme vbm have updated their timetable for company-level actors through the ServiceCenter Tarif, setting formal milestones for autumn 2026 — but the real flashpoint is the future of the 35-hour workweek.
Under the current roadmap, the IG Metall union will unveil its specific demands in September 2026, with formal negotiations between the bargaining parties kicking off in October. To prepare for regional nuances and dialogue with member companies, bayme vbm has scheduled events for the fourth quarter, including a regional assembly in Lower Franconia on 30 November 2026.
In recent weeks, foundational documents have been released. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) published its directory of generally binding collective agreements, current as of 1 July 2026, alongside information on the seventh ordinance concerning minimum wage thresholds in temporary agency work.
Pressure Mounts on the 35-Hour Standard
Working time arrangements are shaping up as the central battleground. According to IG Metall, 300 deviations from the prevailing collective agreement occurred in Baden-Württemberg alone in 2025 — a jump of 50 cases compared with 2024. The union warns this signals a growing assault on the 35-hour week.
Major industry players are already pushing for longer hours or exploiting exemption clauses. Mercedes is demanding a return to the 40-hour week, citing insufficient plant utilisation. At Stadler’s Berlin rail vehicle factory, a temporary increase to 40 hours has been agreed, with a return to 35 hours not expected until the 2030s. Aumovio has raised weekly working time at its Ingolstadt and Villingen-Schwenningen sites from 35 to 38 hours.
Restructuring and Site Security Reflect Economic Strain
The sector’s economic pressures are also visible in divergent site protection deals. At automotive supplier Mahle, regional contrasts are stark:
In Stuttgart, works partners agreed to cut one-off payments and postpone a wage increase. In exchange, job protection was secured until 2029. At the Neustadt plant, however, closure has been decided. The 400 employees there face losing their jobs as production is shifted to Slovakia.
Association Expands Into Defence Sector
Alongside bargaining preparations, employer associations are adapting their portfolios to shifting geopolitical realities. Since 6 July 2026, bayme vbm has operated a new business field focused on the defence industry, designed to meet that sector’s specific requirements.
Additional specialist events are planned for autumn, including a congress on digitalisation in tax administration on 6 October 2026 and the Ausbildung Forum in Swabia on 8 October 2026. These gatherings underscore the industry’s effort to tackle structural challenges such as skilled labour shortages and digital transformation alongside core collective bargaining issues.
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