Eugen Loderer (28 May 1920 – 9 February 1995) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

trade union leader. Born in

Heidenheim an der Brenz Heidenheim an der Brenz, or just Heidenheim (; Swabian: ''Hoidna'' or ''Hoirna''), is a town in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is located near the border with Bavaria, approximately 17 km south of Aalen and 33 km north of ...

, Loderer undertook an apprenticeship as a metal cloth maker, but was called up to serve in the navy before he could complete this. He served until May 1945, when he was captured by the British. He returned to his former career, and joined the Iron and Metal Industry Association, which soon became part of

IG Metall IG Metall (; IGM; German: ''Industriegewerkschaft Metall'', "Industrial Union of Metalworkers'") is the dominant metalworkers' union in Germany, making it the country's largest union as well as Europe's largest industrial union. Analysts of Ger ...

. He joined the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...

(SPD), and gradually rose to more prominent positions in the union. From 1959, he was its district secretary for youth work and

shop steward A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

s. IG Metall was affiliated to 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 ...

(DGB), and in 1963, Loderer was elected as the federation's Baden-Württemberg district secretary. In 1966, he took a leading role in an anti-fascist rally outside the conference of the

National Democratic Party of Germany The National Democratic Party of Germany (german: Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands or NPD) is a far-right Neo-Nazi and ultranationalist political party in Germany. The party was founded in 1964 as successor to the German Reich Party ...

, and this propelled him to national attention. In 1968, Loderer was elected as deputy president of IG Metall, with the backing of president

Otto Brenner Otto Brenner (8 November 1907 – 15 April 1972) was a German trades unionist and politician. Between 1956 and 1972 he was the leader of the powerful IG Metall ''(Industrial Union of Metalworkers)''. In a tribute published in 1967 to celebrate ...

. He was the union's lead on public relations, human resources, organisation, and administration. Brenner died in 1972, and Loderer was elected as his successor. While Loderer initially campaigned on issues such as banning

lockout Lockout may refer to: * Lockout (industry), a type of work stoppage **Dublin Lockout, a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers 1913 - 1914 * Lockout (sports), lockout in sports leagues **MLB lockout, lock ...

s, and expanding the role of workers in company management, the economic crisis led him to a more defensive position, and a focus on collective bargaining. He also presided over five major strikes. He was staunchly opposed to communists in the union, or to any co-operation with unions affiliated to the communist

World Federation of Trade Unions The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is an international federation of trade unions established in 1945. Founded in the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the organization built on the pre-war legacy of the International Federation of ...

, and criticised the peace movement for not spending enough time attacking the Soviet Union. In 1974, Loderer was elected as president of the

International Metalworkers' Federation The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) was a global union federation of metalworkers' trade unions, founded in Zürich, Switzerland in August 1893. the IMF had more than 200 member organisations in 100 countries, representing a combine ...

. He was elected in the European Parliament election, 1979, for the SPD in Hesse, but he stood down in January 1980, as he found the workload was incompatible with remaining leader of the union. He retired from his trade union roles in 1983, and later moved back to Heidenheim.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loderer, Eugen 1920 births 1995 deaths Kriegsmarine personnel of World War II German trade unionists MEPs for Germany 1979–1984 People from Heidenheim Social Democratic Party of Germany MEPs German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom