1. Organizational structure of German trade unions
(1) Three major structures
1. German Trade Union Federation (DGB). DGB is a consortium of German trade union organizations, the main body of which is composed of eight trade unions in China. The term of office is four years, and the presidium is composed of 13 members, including the chairmen of eight trade unions and five full-time staff of the German Trade Union Federation. Every four years, the new chairman and presidium of the German Trade Union Federation are elected, which determines the future direction of German trade unions.
2. German regional trade union federation. DGB has established 88 regional trade union federations in 16 states in Germany, which are also federations of regional trade union organizations, and the main body is also composed of eight major trade unions in the region. The term of office of the leading members is the same as DGB's, and they are all four years.
3. German trade unions. There are eight major trade unions, namely: Construction-Agricultural Environment Trade Union, Mining/Chemical/Energy Trade Union, Education and Science Trade Union, Hardware Trade Union, Food and Catering Trade Union, Police Trade Union, Public Transport Trade Union and Service Industry Federation Trade Union. Among them, the hardware trade union is the largest industrial trade union in Germany at present.
(2) The most influential trade union:
The German Hardware Union (IG-Metall) was formerly the German Hardware Workers' Association. The Hardware Workers' Association was established in 1891. After decades of development, it has become the largest trade union organization in Germany by 1914. Later, by absorbing the Christian Hardware Workers Union and another free organization, it gradually developed into the largest industrial union in Germany, which is what we call the German Hardware Union today. The slogan of the Hardware Workers' Association was that all workers in the hardware industry could join the organization voluntarily. The German Hardware Trade Union is a democratic trade union organization, with members joining voluntarily, and there are more than 171 local grass-roots organizations, more than half of which have more than 11,111 members. Members pay membership dues at 1% of the total salary every month. As of September, 2114, the trade union has 2.4 million members, which are diverse, including workers, employees, craftsmen, young people, women, foreigners, unemployed people, retirees and students.
The organizations of German hardware trade unions include: grass-roots congresses, local boards of directors, regional organizations, regional conferences, trade union (representative) congresses, executive committees, central committees, supervisory committees and auditors.
grass-roots congress: it is a parliamentary congress of grass-roots organizations, and it is held four times a year (once every three months). At the meeting, members of grass-roots organizations elect representatives of trade union (representatives) congresses, regional conferences, local board of directors and members of consultative committees.
local board of directors: it is the leading body of grass-roots organizations, and its members are full-time cadres of the hardware trade union, elected by the hardware trade union by secret ballot, and the term of office is determined by the executive committee. The main tasks are to implement the decisions of grass-roots congresses and set up working groups and committees. Regional organizations: The Hardware Trade Union has more than 171 grass-roots organizations in seven regions of Germany. Each district has a district board of directors, which is composed of the district chairman, the district secretary and a five-member committee. The district chairman is appointed by the Executive Committee and acts according to the instructions of the Executive Committee. Regional organizations are mainly responsible for collective bargaining, wage and salary negotiation.
regional conference: to study issues related to consultation, organizational construction and trade union politics at the annual conference. Approve the members of the Consultative Committee and elect the members of the Central Committee and the regional committees.
trade union (representative) congress: the highest institution of the German hardware trade union, which is held every four years. Every 5,111 members have a representative, who elects the Executive Committee and the Supervisory Committee of the German Hardware Union, formulates articles of association and maintains the selectivity of trade union policies. The Executive Committee and the Board of Supervisors report to the representatives of the trade union (representative) congress and are passed by voting. Executive Committee: It consists of 1 chairman, 1 vice-chairman, 1 treasurer of the Federation, 4 full-time staff and 29 honorary members. Its task is to implement the resolutions of the trade union (representative) congress, terminate collective consultation, and make decisions on strike consultation and strike.
Central Committee: the highest decision-making body of the trade union (representative) congress when it is not in session. Meet at least three times a year. The regional conference has a seat as a member of the Central Committee for every 31,111 members. Members of the Executive Committee are also members of the Central Committee.
Board of Supervisors: It is composed of seven members of the German Hardware Union who do not hold other positions. The main task is to pay attention to the compliance and implementation of the articles of association, the trade union (representative) congress and the decisions of the Central Committee by the Executive Committee.
Audit: In German hardware trade unions, there are committees for auditing funds at every level, from local to regional and central.
The organizational structure of German hardware trade unions is from top to bottom: trade union (representative) congress → Central Committee → Executive Committee → local grass-roots organizations (more than 171).