The labor situation in Germany is very stable; only seldom do unions call on their members to strike. Then the issue is mainly about rules on working hours, safeguarding jobs, working hours, vacation and early-retirement rules. Labor and management are aware of their responsibility for the overall economy and take it very seriously in the interest of employees and employers. Contract negotiations are worked out exclusively between unions and employer associations for individual industries. In the last few years, contract negotiations resulted in moderate agreements. The individual unions in Germany are distributed among the various branches of industry. Employees who wish to become members of a labor union automatically become members of that union to which the company belongs due to its industry. Most individual unions are members of the umbrella organization Verdi.

German labor unions speak up for their members; but they are not allowed to interfere in internal company processes. Strikes in Germany - especially in high-growth regions such as Baden-Württemberg - are extraordinarily rare, and when they occur, last only a short time.