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70 years in the service of education: GEW honors veteran Günter Zorn!
In the Ilm district, the GEW honors long-standing members and highlights developments in education and union work on November 2nd, 2025.
70 years in the service of education: GEW honors veteran Günter Zorn!
On November 2, 2025, the Education and Science Union (GEW) will be the focus as it honors its long-standing members. Particularly in the spotlight is Günter Zorn from the rural community of Geratal, who has been a member of the GEW for an impressive 70 years. This honor commemorates not only his loyalty to the union, but also the changes and challenges that education in Germany has experienced since his membership. Back when Zorn joined the GEW, the DGB chairman called for the introduction of the 40-hour week, an issue that was particularly explosive at the time. There were also GDR restrictions on the sale of food to West Germans and a political landscape in which the Federal Republic of Germany's non-joining of NATO was formulated as a condition for reunification. At the same time, the advice program “What am I?” started. with Robert Lemke - a nostalgic look back at a dynamic era.
The GEW is more than just a long tradition. According to the GEW gew.de, members receive comprehensive legal protection in various professional matters. Whether it's unfair reviews, incorrect classifications or terminations, members have numerous support options available. Training and networking meetings help staff and works councils to strongly represent the interests of their members.
Solidarity and support
The union negotiates collective agreements in both the public sector and the private education sector, from which civil servants also benefit. Another plus point for members is the legal and financial protection measures during industrial disputes. In addition, GEW offers professional liability insurance for members, which covers personal injury, property damage and financial loss.
With a membership fee, which includes a subscription to the nationwide magazine “Education & Science”, members also receive access to various information about education, civil service and collective bargaining policy. The GEW is also actively involved in the educational policy debate and supports projects through the Max Traeger Foundation and politically persecuted trade unionists through the Heinrich Rodenstein Fund.
Another highlight are the exclusive service offers for members, which include, for example, discounts on vacation and advantages in retirement planning through cooperations. The GEW therefore remains an important contact point for those who work in the education sector and want to stand up for their rights and those of their colleagues.
By honoring long-standing members like Günter Zorn, the GEW shows that tradition and progress can go hand in hand. It remains exciting to see how the educational landscape will develop in the coming years and what challenges the future holds.