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General Commission of German Trade Unions

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General Commission of German Trade Unions
Generalkommission der Gewerkschaften Deutschlands
Merged intoGeneral German Trade Union Federation
Founded16 November 1890 (1890-11-16)
Dissolved5 July 1919 (1919-07-05)
HeadquartersEngelufer 62–64, Berlin
Location
  • Germany
Key people
Carl Legien (President)
Publication
Correspondenzblatt der Generalkommission
AffiliationsISNTUC

The General Commission of German Trade Unions (German: Generalkommission der Gewerkschaften Deutschlands) was an umbrella body for German trade unions during the German Empire, from the end of the Anti-Socialist Laws in 1890 up to 1919. In 1919, a successor organisation was named the Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, and then in 1949, the current Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund was formed.

History

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In January 1890, the Reichstag refused to extend the Anti-Socialist Laws which had prohibited socialist political parties and trade unions. Despite this, many of those trade unions which did exist, the Free Trade Unions, had come to work closely with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).[1]

Large celebrations marked May Day in 1890. In Hamburg, employers locked out workers who took the day off. In response, the various unions representing metal and engineering workers called for a union conference, to look at the implications of this defeat. On 16 and 17 November, trade union leaders met in Berlin, and agreed to found the General Commission of German Trade Unions, under the leadership of Carl Legien.[1][2]

The new organisation brought together unions representing a total of 290,000 members. It initially focused on activities which affiliates were unable or unwilling to undertake. On 1 January 1891, it launched a journal, Correspondenzblatt der Generalkommission, to promote membership recruitment and support. Initially, the new organisation struggled, and affiliated membership fell from 215,000 in 1892.[2][3]

In March 1892, the commission called a congress in Halberstadt, at which a majority agreed to support the formation of national, centralised unions. While this approach was favoured by the existing central unions, and by smaller, craft unions, it was strongly opposed by local unions. These tended to be associated with the left-wing of the SPD, and argued unsuccessfully for the unions to play a major political role.[3][4]

The commission promoted some standardisation among its members, encouraging them to set up insurance funds to cover strikes, travel, health, and death. It argued that unions must actively recruit women as members, although the process proved slow. It also argued for increases in membership fees, to strengthen the unions, and this led unions to take on more employees - numbers rising from 269 in 1900, to 2,867 in 1914. While it remained neutral on whether craft unions should merge to form industrial unions, there was a strong tendency towards mergers, with the number of affiliates falling from 70 in 1890, to 46 in 1914, even as overall affiliated membership increased rapidly.[2][3][4] By 1904, affiliated membership had reached 1,100,000, and in 1914, it hit 2,500,000.

By the second half of the 1890s, Legien was arguing that the unions were no longer a recruitment school for the SPD, but were mass industrial organisations, of whom only a minority of members would become political activists. In 1905, the commission voted against the use of general strikes for political end, against the opposition of the SPD. While the party leadership sought to smooth over the difference in opinion, Rosa Luxemburg vocally opposed the lack of political activity among the trade unions, and even Karl Kautsky argued that there were limits to what trade unions could achieve without undertaking political activity. The commission maintained its position, writing "Contributions to the Appreciation of the Work of the German Trade Unions" in response.[1][5]

The commission supported German involvement in World War I, arguing for a moratorium on political debate and industrial action. As the war continued, popular support for it fell, along with union membership. When the Independent Social Democratic Party split away from the SPD, in opposition to war loans, the commission remained loyal to the SPD, but began calling more clearly for political and social reforms. In December 1918, with the SPD in power, the commission participated in founding the Central Working Group for Industrial and Commercial Employers and Employees in Germany. The unions were legally recognised as the representatives of the workers, but were compelled to negotiate with employers through formal structures.[6][7]

In November 1919, the commission held its tenth congress, and voted to reform as the General German Trade Union Federation.[7]

Affiliates

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The following unions were affiliated from 1904 onwards:[8]

Union Short name Founded Left Reason Membership (1904)[9] Membership (1913)[10]
Central Union of Asphalters and Roof Felters of Germany Asphalteure 1904 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A
Central Union of Bakers and Confectioners Bäcker und Konditoren 1907 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A 28,978
Central Union of Brewery Workers Brauereiarbeiter 1884 1910 Merged into Brewery & Mill Workers 18,485 N/A
Central Union of Butchers Fleischer 1893 1919 Transferred to ADGB 2,435
Central Union of Carpenters and Kindred Trades of Germany Zimmerer 1883 1919 Transferred to ADGB 35,891 62,069
Central Union of Carvers of Germany Bildhauer 1881 1919 Merged into Wood Workers 4,590
Central Union of Civilian Musicians in Germany Zivil-Musiker 1902 1919 Merged into Musicians 726
Central Union of Commercial Employees Handangestellten 1897 1919 Transferred to ADGB 3,398 23,967
Central Union of Confectionery and Gingerbread Konditoren 1891 1907 Merged into Bakers & Confectioners 2,019 N/A
Central Union of Construction Workers Bauhilfsarbeiter 1891 1910 Merged into Construction Workers 33,245 N/A
Central Union of Glassworkers Glasarbeiter 1890 1919 Transferred to ADGB 5,881
Central Union of Glaziers and Related Professionals Glaser 1885 1919 Transferred to ADGB 3,666
Central Union of Machinists and Stokers Maschinisten und Heizer 1892 1919 Transferred to ADGB 8,090 26,406
Central Union of Masons Maurer 1891 1910 Merged into Construction Workers 128,850 N/A
Central Union of Plasterers Stukkateur 1892 1912 Merged into Construction Workers 5,575 N/A
Central Union of Potters Töpfer 1892 1919 Transferred to ADGB 10,241 10,882
Central Union of Roofers Dachdecker 1889 1919 Transferred to ADGB 3,573
Central Union of Sailors of Germany Seeleute 1898 1910 Merged into Transport Workers 3,189 N/A
Central Union of Ship Builders of Germany Schiffszimmerer 1890 1919 Transferred to ADGB 2,495
Central Union of Shoemakers of Germany Schuhmacher 1883 1919 Transferred to ADGB 25,262 44,902
Central Union of Stonemasons of Germany Steinarbeiter 1884 1919 Transferred to ADGB 10,012 31,061
Factory Workers' Union of Germany Fabrikarbeiter 1890 1919 Transferred to ADGB 49,181 195,441
General German Gardeners' Union Gärtner 1890 1919 Transferred to ADGB 3,144
German Agricultural Workers' Union Landarbeiter 1909 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A 17,000[11]
German Choral Singers' Union Chorsänger 1884 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A
German Construction Workers' Union Bauarbeiter 1911 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A 326,631
German Furriers' Union Kürschner 1902 1919 Transferred to ADGB 1,935
German Hat Workers' Union Hutmacher 1871 1919 Transferred to ADGB 4,269 11,562
German Leather Workers' Union Lederarbeiter 1872 1919 Transferred to ADGB 5,473 16,231
German Metal Workers' Union Metallarbeiter 1891 1919 Transferred to ADGB 176,221 556,139
German Mill Workers' Union Mühlenarbeiter 1889 1910 Merged into Brewery & Mill Workers 3,456 N/A
German Musicians' Union Musiker 1919 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A N/A
German Painters' Union Maler 1885 1919 Transferred to ADGB 22,859 47,511
German Railway Union Eisenbahner 1916 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A N/A
German Railway Workers' Union Eisenbahner 1897 1908 Merged into Transport Workers N/A N/A
German Shipyard Workers' Union Werftarbeiter 1896 3,730
German Textile Workers' Union Textilarbeiter 1891 1919 Transferred to ADGB 53,568 141,484
German Tobacco Workers' Union Tabakarbeiter 1872 1919 Transferred to ADGB 19,456 34,191
German Transport Workers' Union Transportarbeiter 1897 1919 Transferred to ADGB 36,325 229,785
German Umbrella Makers' Union Schirmmacher 1904 1910 Merged into Wood Workers N/A N/A
German Wood Workers' Union Holzarbeiter 1893 1919 Transferred to ADGB 97,105 195,441
German Xylographers' Union Xylographen 1874 1919 Transferred to ADGB 434
Music Engravers' Assistants' Union Notenstecher 1872 1919 Transferred to ADGB 326
Union of Alsace-Lorraine Book Printers Buckdrucker (Elsaß-Lothringischen) 1882 854
Union of Bakers and Related Workers of Germany Bäcker 1885 1907 Merged into Bakers & Confectioners 9,068 N/A
Union of Blacksmiths Schmeide 1885 1912 Merged into Metal Workers 12,185 N/A
Union of Book and Stone Printing Assistants of Germany Buch- und Steinbruderei-Hilfsarbeiter 1898 1919 Transferred to ADGB 4,082 15,731
Union of Bookbinders and Paper Workers of Germany Buchbinder 1885 1919 Transferred to ADGB 15,206 33,337
Union of Brewery and Mill Workers Brauerei- und Mühlenarbeiter 1910 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A 51,537
Union of Cigar Sorters and Box Gluers of Germany Zigarrensortierer 1885 1912 Merged into Tobacco Workers 1,471 N/A
Union of Coopers, Cellar Managers, and Helpers in Germany Böttcher 1885 1919 Transferred to ADGB 6,200
Union of Coppersmiths of Germany Kupferschmide 1886 1919 Transferred to ADGB 3,341
Union of Upholsterers of Germany Tapezierer 1897 1919 Transferred to ADGB 5,377 10,534
Union of Dockers of Germany Hafenarbeiter 1891 1910 Merged into Transport Workers 14,054 N/A
Union of Domestic Workers of Germany Hausangestellten 1909 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A
Union of Engravers and Chiselers Graveure und Ciseleure 1897 1907 Merged into Metal Workers 2,265 N/A
Union of Flower, Feather and Leaf Workers Blumenarbeiter 1903 1913 Merged into Factory Workers 353 N/A
Union of German Book Printers Buchdrucker 1866 1919 Transferred to ADGB 38,976 68,682
Union of German Restaurant Workers Gastwirtsgehilfen 1897 1919 Transferred to ADGB 2,838 16,096
Union of Gilders Vergolder 1890 1906 Merged into Wood Workers 1,710 N/A
Union of Glove Makers of Germany Handschuhmacher 1869 1909 Merged into Leather Workers 2,988 N/A
Union of Hairdressers and Assistants Friseurgehilfen 1889 1919 Transferred to ADGB 868 2,500[12]
Union of Insulation and Screed Layers of Germany Isolierer 1906 1911 Merged into Construction Workers N/A N/A
Union of Laundry and Tie Workers Wäschearbeiter 1903 1907 Merged into Garment Workers 875 N/A
Union of Lithographers and Lithographic Printers Lithographen und Steindrucker 1891 1919 Transferred to ADGB 10,658 16,688
Union of Miners of Germany Bergarbeiter 1889 1919 Transferred to ADGB 75,364 104,113
Union of Municipal and State Workers Gemeindebetriebearbeiter 1896 1919 Transferred to ADGB 12,156 52,996
Union of Office Employees of Germany Bureauangestellte 1897 1919 Transferred to ADGB 536 8,953[13]
Union of Porcelain and Related Workers of Germany Porzellanarbeiter 1892 1919 Transferred to ADGB 8,054 16,592
Union of Portfolio Makers Portfeuiller 1901 1909 Merged into Saddlers & Portfolio Makers 2,502 N/A
Union of Saddlers Sattler 1889 1909 Merged into Saddlers & Portfolio Makers 4,259 N/A
Union of Saddlers and Portfolio Makers Sattler und Portfeuiller 1909 1919 Transferred to ADGB N/A 14,908
Union of Stone Setters, Pavers and Kindred Trades Steinsetzer 1886 1919 Transferred to ADGB 5,933 11,395
Union of Tailors and Dressmakers in Germany Schneider 1888 1919 Transferred to ADGB 23,242 49,978
Union of Warehouse Workers Lagerhalter 1895 1913 Merged into Commercial Assistants 1,267 N/A
Photographic Assistants Photographengehilfen 1899 1908 Merged into Lithographers N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Mommsen, Wolfgang; Husung, Hans-Gerhard (2017). The Development of Trade Unionism in Great Britain and Germany, 1880-1914. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1351815253.
  2. ^ a b c "Auf dem Weg zur Massenorganisation". Geschichte der Gewerkschaften. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Aufgaben der Generalkommission". Geschichte der Gewerkschaften. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Endlich gelingt der Durchbruch". Geschichte der Gewerkschaft. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Debatte über Massenstreik". Geschichte der Gewerkschaften. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Ja zur Kriegspolitik des Kaisers". Geschichte der Gewerkschaften. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Viele Zerreißproben". Geschichte der Gewerkschaften. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Ausgabe Adressen Beilage" (PDF). Gewerkschaftspresse: 1. 5 April 1919. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. ^ Brunner, Louis (1905). Die Deutschen Gewertschaften 1891-1904 (PDF). Berlin: General Commission of German Trade Unions. p. 9. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ^ Seidel, Richard. "DER WEG ZUR INDUSTRIEGEWERKSCHAFT" (PDF). Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. ^ Kwasnik, Walter. "Deutscher Landarbeiter-Verband". Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  12. ^ Figure is for 1914: "Etzkorn, Friedrich (1874-1946)". Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. ^ Figure is for 1914: Urban, Otto (1931). Zentralverband der Angestellten. ADGB. p. 2101–2106. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
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