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In some industries, employers and unions have agreements that if they cannot make progress at the negotiating table, they will attempt to reach an agreement with the help of uninvolved third parties.
For example, in the spring of 2023, the federal government, municipalities and Verdi went into arbitration on behalf of public sector employees. After several days of consultations with employers and unions, the arbitrators made a settlement proposal. Neither side was obliged to accept the proposal. But Verdi and the German Civil Service Association decided to approve. This ended the collective bargaining dispute.