As of: March 27, 2024, 12:00 p.m
By: Carina Blumenroth
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Since the rail strikes at the latest, the general public has known that trade unions exist.
But what do employees get out of it?
In the last few weeks and months, the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) led by union leader Claus Weselsky has influenced the lives of many commuters in Germany in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn.
It is now clear that the GDL's demands were largely enforced.
But what exactly do unions mean for employees?
What exactly are unions?
Trade unions represent the interests of employees.
(Symbolic image) © imageBROKER/Walter G. Allgöwer/Imago
Trade unions are associations of employees, informs the
Federal Agency for Civic Education
.
This means that the interests of employees are the focus.
In this context, the union is negotiating with employers, for example, most recently seen successfully with the GDL and Deutsche Bahn.
Thematically it can be about wages, working hours, vacation days, breaks or further training.
If the demands cannot be satisfactorily enforced in discussions and negotiations, the union can call on the employees to go on strike.
Legally enshrined right
Article 9 of the Basic Law ensures that everyone has the right to “form associations and societies”.
Paragraph 3 further states specifically: “The right to form associations to protect and promote working and economic conditions is guaranteed for everyone and for all professions.
Agreements that restrict or attempt to hinder this right are void; measures aimed at this are unlawful.
Measures in accordance with Articles 12a, 35 paragraphs 2 and 3, Article 87a paragraph 4 and Article 91 may not be directed against industrial disputes that are carried out to protect and promote the working and economic conditions of associations within the meaning of sentence 1.”
Employees can voluntarily become members of a union.
One of the main tasks of trade unions is to achieve fair working conditions for employees.
This includes, among other things, occupational safety and pay.
However, unions also deal with politics and laws.
In this context, trade unions and employers' associations can negotiate collective agreements for certain sectors.
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How can individual workers benefit from unions?
If employees have individual problems, they can contact them if they are members of a union.
This is conceivable, for example, for individual advice or legal advice, informs the
Personio.de portal.
So if you have problems with your employer because of late wage payments or a supposedly unlawful dismissal, you can contact your union.
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Does the employer need to know that you are a member of a union?
If you want to join a union, you do not have to tell your employer,
IG Metall
informs on its website.
Some unions have merged to form the
German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)
.
There are eight member unions, including these:
IG Bauen-Agrar-Environment,
IGBCE,
EGV – railway and transport company,
Education and Science Union,
IG Metall,
Food-Pleasure-Restaurants Union,
police union,
ver.di – United Service Management Union.
According to their own information, they have a total of 5.7 million members in Germany.