Workers involved in strike action in Germany by sector 2010-2020

Germany has traditionally been seen as a country which exhibits 'coordinated' labor market institutions, whereby trade unions, employers, and the federal government work in tandem to regulate the labor market and to prevent labor conflicts from arising. In the period following the global financial crisis, Germany fared relatively well compared to its European neighbors, with strong growth rates and the so-called Beschäftigungswunder (employment miracle) driving unemployment consistently lower.

Nevertheless, Germany has seen some prominent industrial actions taken by unions in the decade from 2010 to 2020. Most notably, in 2018 there was a surge in actions taken by workers and unions in the manufacturing sector, as the country's largest union, IG Metall, led walk-outs at some of the country's most prominent manufacturers, including the luxury car brand Porsche. This action, one of the largest this century, sought to improve work flexibility for industrial workers, as well as seeking wage rises in line with Germany's increasing economic prosperity. Other prominent actions in recent years have included strikes by workers of the Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail company, as well as strikes by public sector workers over remuneration disputes.