With the expiry of the peace obligation on 1 November, the peace obligation at the metal and electrical industries has ended. The Germany’s Metalworkers’ Union is therefore calling for initial action today, 2 November 2026, in Lower Saxony The union names in Hildesheim.as the starting point; other businesses in the west of the state are planning short stoppages. Rallies have been announced in Schüttorf The aim is to increase pressure in the ongoing Collective bargaining .
The union says it is taking this step because of rising inflation and the desire to safeguard employees’ purchasing power. A local warning strike is intended, it says, to speed up progress in negotiations without having a lasting impact on production. The employers’ associations, including NiedersachsenMetall, warn, however, against excessive demands. Many companies report reduced capacity utilisation and uncertainty over investment; accordingly, there is limited scope for pay rises. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to continuing the talks.
In the short term, the union expects localised effects: cancelled shifts, delays in production processes and staggered stoppages. Suppliers and medium-sized manufacturers are particularly affected, as their supply chains are interconnected within the region. Works councils are coordinating the measures on site with the union officials responsible. IG Metall is providing organisational guidance for participants and urging them to comply with workplace safety requirements.
The action is legally based on collective bargaining law: once an agreed peace obligation has expired, warning strikes are generally permissible, provided that proportionality, prior notice and workplace safety precautions are observed. No legal challenge to the permissibility of individual measures is currently known.
Collective bargaining has gone through several rounds without reaching an agreement. Specific offer levels and contract durations are matters for negotiation and, as of the time of writing, have not been agreed. Employers stress the uncertainty surrounding orders and point to international competition; the union counters that real-terms income losses must be offset. According to both sides, whether and to what extent action in Lower Saxony will be extended depends on how the collective bargaining talks progress.
The situation therefore remains fluid: while initial sites in Lower Saxony are making their presence felt today, the bargaining committees are working towards a compromise that takes account of both the pressures on businesses and the expectations of employees in the metal and electrical industries.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).