List of trade unions in Germany

This is a list of trade unions in Germany.

Trade union federations

The Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, established 1949, is the most important union organisation. After many mergers it only now consists of 8 trade unions. It mediates inter-union disputes and organises member unions so they do not impede on each other's membership. It follows the Einheitsgewerkschaft principle. In its substantive politics it is aligned mostly with the SPD. Members are not bound by DGB policies. The representation in the DGB is democratic, so in practice IG Metall and ver.di dominate the agenda and policy with most members.

Individual unions

There are 8 unions, following a long series of mergers, affiliated to the largest German trade union confederation, the Deutsche Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB).

Name Est. Members Description Website
Industriegewerkschaft Metall 1949 2,300,000 IG Metall igmetall.de
Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft 2001 2,200,000 ver.di verdi.de
IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie 1997 690,000 igbce.de
IG Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt 1996 350,000 IGBAU had 720,000 members in 1996. igbau.de
Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft 1948 252,000 gew.de
Gewerkschaft der Eisenbahner Deutschlands 1948 250,000 (2007) Formerly known as Transnet.
Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten 1949 202,000 (2008) ngg.net
Gewerkschaft der Polizei 1959 180,000 www.gdp.de

There are 39 trade unions under the Deutsche Beamte Bund (dbb) however German law continues to deny civil servants the right to strike.

Name Est. Members Description Website
Komba Gewerkschaft komba.de
Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer

There are 16 unions affiliated to the Christlicher Gewerkschaftsbund.


There are a number of other, non-affiliated unions with a total of between 200,000 and 300,000 members.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ See H Dribusch and P Birke, Trade Unions in Germany: Organisation, Environment, Challenges (2012)