In 2008, the Federal Labor Court declared for the first time that an immediate withdrawal from an employers' association is legally ineffective if this withdrawal occurs during collective bargaining without the knowledge of the trade unions. The new case law of the Federal Labor Court means that the employer remains bound by a collective agreement concluded after leaving the association, even if they are no longer a member of the association. The subject of the investigation is thus the review of the case law of the Federal Labor Court, particularly regarding a potential violation of the employer's negative freedom of association due to the continued binding nature of collective agreements.