It is highly unusual for Germany. The involved union verdi is about as non-confrontational as imaginable. They have bled many members in areas such as hospitals, public administration, muncipal water, trash collection, public transport, construction and the like over the past decades because they hardly ever show teeth.

As a result usually the employer side just walks over them, which is part of why many crucial services in Germany are notoriously understaffed.

It is a good and necessary change of course by them, but also indicates the negotiations to not be taken seriously again by the employers side.