The Chemical, Paper and Ceramic Union (german: IG Chemie-Papier-Keramik) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing chemical, oil refinery, paper, rubber, ceramics, glass and plastics workers in West Germany. While the

Factory Workers' Union of Germany The Factory Workers' Union of Germany (, VFD, commonly known as , FAV) was a trade union in Germany. History The union was founded in early July 1890, as a general union affiliated to the General Commission of German Trade Unions, gathering unsk ...

, dissolved by the Nazis in 1933, was seen as the forerunner of the union, IG Chemie was established on 14 October 1948. The third largest affiliate of the

German Trade Union Confederation The German Trade Union Confederation (german: Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund; DGB) is an umbrella organisation (sometimes known as a national trade union center) for eight German trade unions, in total representing more than 6 million people ...

for much of its history, the union initially struggled with Allied attempts to limit the chemicals industry in West Germany. However, from 1958 it began seeing wage increases for its members above the rate of inflation, and also saw major successes in health and safety. During the 1960s, it was seen as a radical, left-wing union, but by the 1970s, it was associated with the right-wing of the union movement, and criticised for its top-down approach. In 1991, the East German

Industrial Union of Chemicals, Glass and Ceramics The Industrial Union of Chemicals, Glass and Ceramics (german: Industriegewerkschaft Chemie, Glas und Keramik, IG CGK) was a trade union representing workers in various industries in East Germany. The union was founded by the Free German Trade Uni ...

merged into the union. By 1996, it had 694,897 members. The following year, it merged with the

Union of Mining and Energy The Union of Mining and Energy (german: IG Bergbau und Energie, IGBE) was a trade union in West Germany which existed from 1946 until 1997. History In the early 20th-century, there were several miners' unions in Germany, the most important being th ...

and the

Leather Union The Leather Union (german: Gewerkschaft Leder, GL) was a West German trade union representing workers in shoemaking, tanning, saddlery, and other work related to leather. The union was founded in 1949 and affiliated to the German Trade Union Confed ...

, to form

IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie The IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IG BCE) is a trade union in Germany. It is one of eight industrial affiliations of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB). History and structure The IG BCE was created in 1997 from the merger of the Chem ...

Presidents

:1946: Otto Adler :1949:

Wilhelm Gefeller Wilhelm Gefeller (27 May 1906 – 25 March 1983) was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and member of the German Bundestag The Bundestag (, "Federal Diet") is the German federal parliament. It is the only federal repr ...

:1969:

Karl Hauenschild Karl Hauenschild (30 August 1920 – 28 February 2006) was a German trade union leader and politician. Born in Hanover, Hauenschild left school early due to economic hardship. He refused to join the Hitler Youth, and so was barred from his pl ...

:1982: Hermann Rappe :1995: Hubertus Schmoldt

References

{{Authority control Chemical industry trade unions German Trade Union Confederation Trade unions established in 1948 Trade unions disestablished in 1997