Trade union

Arbeitab 9 J.

An organisation of employees fighting together for better working conditions, higher wages and workers' rights. The largest in Germany: IG Metall, ver.di.

A trade union (Gewerkschaft) is an association of employees that negotiates collectively for better wages and working conditions.

Trade unions in Germany:

• DGB (umbrella organisation): 8 individual unions, approx. 5.58 million members (2024)
• Largest: IG Metall (~2.1 million), ver.di (~1.9 million), IG BCE (~580,000)
• Outside the DGB: Marburger Bund (doctors), GEW (teachers), dbb (civil servants)

What trade unions do:

• Negotiate collective agreements (wages, working hours, holidays, Christmas bonus)
• Right to strike: the last resort when negotiations fail
• Legal protection: a free lawyer in employment disputes
• Political influence: representing employees' interests in legislation

Union density:

• 1990: over 35%
• 2025: approx. 16% – down by more than half
• Scandinavia: 65–70% (for comparison)
• Nevertheless: collective agreements apply to approx. 50% of all employees (non-members benefit too)

Membership fee: typically 1% of gross salary (tax-deductible as income-related expenses). In return: legal protection, strike pay (60–70% of net pay), advice.

Did you know? Union membership fell from over 35% (1990) to about 16% (2025). In Scandinavia it is 65–70%. Even so, collective agreements apply to about 50% of all employees in Germany.

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