Is It Lawful to Strike for Sustainability?

On 22 October 2026, Dr Arnold Arpaci’s doctoral thesis, ‘Arbeitskampf um Wirtschaftsbedingungen – Die Mitbestimmung unternehmerischen Handelns in der Tarifautonomie‘, was awarded this year’s Hugo Sinzheimer Prize.

The prize for outstanding doctoral theses in labour law was awarded at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main as part of the ‘Sinzheimer Lecture’ organised by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute of the Hans Böckler Foundation in cooperation with the Institute for Civil and Commercial Law at Goethe University Frankfurt.

We congratulate our author on this award!

About the book

Dr Arpaci’s doctoral thesis examines the question of whether it is permissible to go on strike in the interests of sustainability, business locations or investment. The study examines the substantive scope of protection of freedom of association and related issues rooted in the Basic Law (GG) and the Collective Agreements Act (TVG).

While scholars broadly agree that historical interpretation is particularly important here, the study reveals that a historical reading shaped by former Federal Labour Court President Nipperdey continues to mislead legal scholarship. Drawing on previously overlooked sources, it reconstructs the origins of Art. 9(3) GG, examines the development of collective bargaining law and practice, and ventures a new justification for collective bargaining autonomy.