Gewerkschaft

Gewerkschaft is a German term for a trade union, an organized association of workers aimed at defending and promoting collective economic and social interests. Gewerkschaften organize members, negotiate collective agreements with employers, and provide representation and support in disputes, workplace rights, and policy matters.

The modern German union movement originated with the growth of industrialization in the 19th century and faced periods of repression. After World War II, West Germany established a structured system with independent unions and the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB), founded in 1949. In East Germany, the state-controlled Free German Trade Union Federation (FDGB) operated until reunification in 1990, when union structures were integrated into the German system.

Unions are divided by sector and affiliation. In Germany, major unions include IG Metall (metalworking and electronics), ver.di (services), IG BCE (mining, chemicals, energy), IG BAU (construction), and GEW (education and science). These unions often coordinate under the umbrella of the DGB, which helps set broad policy on labor rights and social policy, though collective bargaining is typically conducted at the sector level by the appropriate union and employers’ associations. Collective agreements may cover wages, working hours, benefits, and working conditions and are legally binding for signatory employers and employees.

Legal framework and labor relations also involve works councils (Betriebsräte), which represent employees at the workplace and participate in co-determination on certain matters. Unions play a central role in industrial relations in Germany and other German-speaking countries, shaping labor policy, social dialogue, and dispute resolution, while also providing training and legal assistance to members.