Digital Strikes: What Do You Need To Know?

With more and more employees working remotely and using digital technology, the 'digital strike' is a new phenomenon. What issues does this raise in Germany?

At the factory gate or in front of a computer, strikes can happen anywhere. Or can they? In Germany, trade unions have started to digitise the previously rather analogue right to strike in a 'just do it' way (without formally defined procedures to reflect these new realities). The question of whether digital strikes are legal is closely related to the question of whether trade unions have a 'right of digital access' to the workplace at all.

What is a digital strike?

The conduct of a strike, that is, a collective, planned cessation of work by a large number of workers without the employer's consent, is usually accompanied by certain (publicity-boosting) actions by the trade union. If these actions take place digitally, this is described as a 'digital strike'.