80 years of unions in Berlin: A review and a look ahead!

80 years of unions in Berlin: A review and a look ahead!

Berlin, Deutschland - On July 15, 2025, the new unions in Berlin will be founded for the 80th time. On this occasion, a special event will take place in the ver.di federal administration from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event is organized in honor of the proud tradition of the unions, which played a decisive role in the reconstruction of Berlin after the Second World War. The organizers are the Hans Böckler Foundation, the Johannes-Sassenbach-Gesellschaft and the ver.di archive, which together the historian Dr. Henning Fischer invited. He will give an insight into the history of the Berlin unions from 1945 to 1971, with a special focus on the first years of the new establishment.

The lecture by Dr. Fischer promises to become exciting and revealing. In addition to his analysis, a documentary from 1949 is shown, which he discovered as part of his research. The contribution of the unions will be recognized this evening, and the question is investigated how these organizations have developed and what role they played in the restoration of the city. The unions were not only a backbone of the labor movement, but also a central player in the social and political life of the time.

a worthy occasion

The event on Tuesday is not only a review, but also an important moment of reflection on the challenges that unions have faced since its foundation. According to ver.di , unions have a long history, which goes back to the 19th century, as it as associations of dependent employees to secure common interests were founded. At a time when political and social struggles were led all the more intensely, unions were able to hear the interests of their members and became an important voice in social debates.

The importance of the unions is also illustrated in the context of political developments. From the 1980s, they were often seen as the "dinosaurs of industrial society", but they are still an indispensable authority, even if the challenges such as the decline in the level of organization should not be underestimated. Almost 80 years after they were founded, the unions show that they are versatile and adapt to the new conditions - a sign of their resilience, as in an article by Docupedia

A look at the story

The historical development of the unions in Germany is a fascinating chapter in social history. These organizations emerged not only from the needs of the workers, but also from an intensive social conflict between capital and work. Historically, the competence of the unions has developed further - from wage policy to collective agreements to social security networks. The lecture by Dr. Fischer will offer the audience a deep insight into these evolutionary phases and shed light on the fundamental questions of the labor movement.

The event will take place on Tuesday, July 15th, in the ver.di federal administration. Interested parties can register at archiv@verdi.de . An educational evening is expected to not only recognize the history of the unions, but also reinterpreted.