On 14 May 1984, IG Metall began a strike for the 35-hour week in the metal industry of North Württemberg and North Baden. Hesse followed a week later. The union’s slogan was Mehr Zeit zum Leben, Lieben, Lachen, more time for living, loving, laughing. The employers locked out about half a million workers, ten times as many as were on strike. The dispute lasted until 4 July 1984. An arbitration led by the former defense minister Georg Leber cut the working week to 38.5 hours. By 1995, it had fallen in steps to 35 hours in the West German metal industry.